France produced an excellent display to round off their Nations League campaign with a 3-1 win over Italy.
Adrien Rabiot, on his 50th cap for his national team, was the hero for the visitors as he benefitted from two fine set-piece deliveries from Lucas Digne - and some poor defensive marking - to net a brace and help Les Bleus gain a measure of revenge over Luciano Spalletti’s side.
With both nations already assured of a quarter-final spot ahead of kick-off, the meeting between the two heavyweights was to decide who topped group A2.
For the Azzurri, the task was simple; avoid defeat by two goals or more to seal top spot. However, midway through the first-half they trailed by that exact scoreline after Rabiot headed home in the second minute and Guglielmo Vicario deflected Lucas Digne’s free-kick into his own net.
However, 10 minutes before the break Andrea Cambiaso reduced the deficit with a fine finish at the back post after being picked out expertly by Federico Dimarco. As a result, at the break, despite being behind, Italy were on course to top the group thanks to their 3-1 win in the reverse meeting on matchday one.
But the all-important moment arrived in the 65th minute as Digne again picked out Rabiot who guided a header past the despairing dive of Vicario. There was still time for some late drama as Mike Maignan produced an outstanding save to deny Moise Kean with seconds remaining on the clock to ensure France leapfrogged Italy and topped the group.
The 2024/25 Nations League knockout stage draw will take place in Nyon, Switzerland, from midday on Friday, November 22, 2024. The ties are to take place on March 20 and 23, 2025.
