Zinédine Zidane's perfect start as France coach ended at the Stade de France on Friday night, as Alessandro Bastoni cancelled out a superb Michael Olise strike to earn Italy a 1-1 draw in UEFA Nations League A, Group 1. France finished with ten men after Dayot Upamecano was sent off five minutes from time.
Match facts
- Result: France 1-1 Italy (half-time 0-0)
- Competition: UEFA Nations League A, Group 1, Matchday 3
- Venue: Stade de France, Saint-Denis
- Scorers: France - Olise 55'; Italy - Bastoni 68'
- Assists: Cherki 55'
- Red cards: Upamecano (France) 85', second yellow
- Next: France v Belgium, Monday 5 October; Italy v Türkiye
How the match unfolded
France had most of the ball early, but the first clear chance fell to Italy when Moise Kean shot straight at Mike Maignan from inside the six-yard box. The closest France came before the break was an Olise cross that took a deflection and clipped the crossbar, while Davide Frattesi's goal-bound shot was turned behind for a corner.
Les Bleus came out much sharper after the interval. Gianluigi Donnarumma parried a long-range effort from Désiré Doué and recovered to block Ousmane Dembélé's follow-up, then dived to keep out a curling Olise shot.
The breakthrough came in the 55th minute from a free-kick routine. Rayan Cherki rolled the ball to Olise, who curled an unstoppable shot in off the underside of the bar.
Italy were level in the 68th minute. France tried to play out from the back, Lucas Da Cunha failed to control a pass, and Bastoni pounced, drove forward and beat the advancing Maignan with a low finish.
Donnarumma kept Italy in it from there, producing a low save to deny Adrien Rabiot moments after the equaliser and a flying stop from Eduardo Camavinga late on. Upamecano's second booking in the 85th minute left France a man down for the closing stages, and Italy held on.
What it means
France stay top of Group 1 on seven points after three matches, one ahead of Belgium, who beat Türkiye 3-0 on the same night. Italy have four points, with Türkiye still without a point.
Zidane, whose first two games in charge were 1-0 away wins in Türkiye and in Belgium, was frustrated but backed his side. "I'm very disappointed for the players because we deserved better," he told TF1. "But I'm proud of them, the effort, the pressing, they were exemplary."
Italy coach Roberto Mancini told RAI: "We knew it would be a very difficult match. But we did well to allow them very little in terms of chances, even if they had more possession."
What happens next
France host Belgium on Monday 5 October in the final game of the window, a rematch of Olise's late winner in Brussels (Belgium 0-1 France). Italy welcome Türkiye, whom they beat 4-1 in Bursa last month (Türkiye 1-4 Italy).