Both celebrating their 50th caps, the midfielder and left-back dazzled in the first half. Adrien Rabiot first who placed a magnificent uncrossed header… on a corner kick from Lucas Digne (3rd: 0-1). The latter then took charge himself, via an axial free kick from 25 meters (33rd: 0-2), to deceive Vicario (the goal was awarded to him because he deflected the ball), the Tottenham goalkeeper who had to replace Donnarumma (ill) at short notice. France had not scored from a direct free kick since March 2018…
Beyond their decisive finish, Digne and Rabiot shone in the game. The first continued to bring danger, via his runs and his crosses, from his left lane; the second proved that he had regained the level which had made him an indisputable starter for the Blues before the end of his contract at Juventus and his arrival in Marseille.
Nations League: a powerless Belgium loses to Italy (0-1)
And even if Italy also had resources with the acceleration of Dimarco to find Cambiaso's recovery (35th: 1-2), the defense of Deschamps' 4-3-3 then took over to prevent the Nazionale to equalize. Until the duo of the evening – Digne and Rabiot – did it again. The former Juventus man once again imposed himself in the air on a cross from the former Roman to silence Milan (66th: 1-3) and take revenge for the last duel.
Undefeated since the Euro, Italy had never lost at home in the Nations League, in all editions (4 wins, 6 draws). And they will now have to play the quarter-final against one of the winners of the other groups: Spain, Portugal or Germany. France will face the Netherlands or the second of one of the two other groups which still have to play (Denmark or Serbia; Croatia, Poland or Scotland).
