Italy – France: and life becomes good again in Milan for the Blues, seeded for the quarter-finals of the Nations League

The last time he brought it out to us, it's a memorable memory. A good Iberian story, in a way. No later than this summer, Friday July 5 precisely, for the quarter-final of the Euro against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal. Qualification on penalties after a barren 120 minutes. What are we talking about, anyway?

4-4-2 diamond drawn by Didier Deschamps for this last match of 2024, closing a calendar year which will not necessarily go down in history. Either.

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Italy – France: Rabiot, the eternal return of an essential player with a thwarted career

Nkunku in support

In the meantime, “DD” had promised that he would test things. And players. He performed with Christopher Nkunku in nine and a half behind the Kolo Muani/Marcus Thuram pair. Exit the 4-3-3 high point or 4-2-3-1 of previous outings, hardly convincing let's admit it. After the unsuccessful attempts at Olise, Guendouzi and Zaire-Emery at number 10, the coach is still looking to replace Antoine Griezmann: not the silky left-hander but the conductor.

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REPLAY. Italy – France: “It was a match for pride!” The Blues finish top of their Nations League group after their victory

This Sunday evening, it was the free electron of the Chelsea Blues who put on the tunic. So, yes, the Blues restarted from set pieces; so not in the game. But the debates were completely different from three days before – mind you, it wasn't difficult… Night and day, so to speak. From the start, we saw the French much more concerned than facing Israel in terms of commitment and intensity.

As proof: the opening score signed by an angry header from Adrien Rabiot from a corner from Lucas Digne (0-1, 2nd). The latter, exactly half an hour later, sets the table again alone like a great with a masterful free kick to the right corner from Guglielmo Vicario; finally, all alone, thanks to the neck of the transalpine goalkeeper (0-2, csc; 33rd)!

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Italy – France: contested decisions, sulphurous reputation and bad memories among the Blues… The referee of the match is a character

Too bad for the Aston Villa defender, who celebrated his 50th for the occasion^e cape. Like the neo-Marseillais Rabiot: new indirect free kick this time, new service distilled by… Digne, and new jackpot header from the middle of OM (1-3, 65th). While in the meantime Andrea Cambiaso had reduced the score following a loss of the ball by Jules Koundé (1-2, 35th).

Thanks also to “Mike Magique Maignan”, author of a saving goal in front of Moise Kean in added time (90 + 4).

France avoids Portugal, Germany or Spain

Result of the races and the scores: the Blues won in Milan, in the Giuseppe Meazza temple, returning the favor to the Squadra Azzurra who came to win at the Park at the beginning of September by the same score.

Above all, on the wire, France steals first place in the group from Italy. Which allows him, for the rest of the competition, namely the quarter-finals, to take a priori “the most affordable part of the table”. Avoiding the kings other group leaders: Portugal, Germany and Spain. There is no small profit.