France produced an excellent display to top their Nations League group at the expense of Italy thanks to a 3-1 victory in Milan.
Having lost the reverse fixture between the two European heavyweights back in September, Didier Deschamps’ side knew they had to win by two more goals in order to leapfrog the Azzurri and midway through the first-half they were in dreamland.
Adrien Rabiot, on his 50th cap for his national team, broke the deadlock after two minutes as he headed home Lucas Digne’s outswinging corner before the Aston Villa left-back saw his excellent free-kick find the back of the net via a deflection off Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.
Despite Andrea Cambiaso reducing the deficit with a fine finish 10 minutes before half-time, the Digne to Rabiot combination restored the visitors’ two-goal lead before Mike Maignan denied Moise Kean with a stunning save in the closing stages to ensure France leapfrogged Italy and topped the group.
Italy vs France latest
- GOAL! Rabiot heads home again
- GOAL! Cambiaso pulls one back
- GOAL! Vicario own goal doubles France's lead
- GOAL! Rabiot breaks the deadlock
France celebrate
21:59 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneFrance get the win by the scoreline required to top their Nations League group.
𝑶𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒓-𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒔! 🙌
— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) November 17, 2024
A 3-1 win over Italy and our Bleus finish 𝐓𝐎𝐏 of their Nations League group 😄🔥#ITAFRA | #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/zXj6VnEeYB
FULL-TIME
21:41 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneFull-time at the San Siro: Italy 1-3 France.
France top the group.
Italy 1-3 France
21:40 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne90+4 min: What a save!
Maignan shows great reflexes to keep out Kean’s effort.
Italy 1-3 France
21:39 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne90+3 min: Great block from Saliba to deny Bastoni.
Italy 1-3 France
21:38 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne90+2 min: Guendouzi booked for delaying the restart.
Italy 1-3 France
21:37 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne90+1 min: Four minutes of added time signalled as Rovella’s effort is saved by Maignan.
Italy 1-3 France
21:35 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne89 min: Still all to play for as a goal for Italy will see them win the group.
Italy 1-3 France
21:30 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne84 min: Vicario comes for this one and manages to punch the ball clear
Italy 1-3 France
21:29 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne83 min: Another France corner, to be taken by Digne...
Italy 1-3 France
21:28 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne82 min: Change for France at right-back as Pavard replaces Kounde whilst Udogie is on for Di Marco for Italy.
Italy 1-3 France
21:26 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne79 min: Kean tries to get the better of Konate, but ends up conceding a foul.
Italy 1-3 France
21:24 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne77 min: Italy have also made a change as Maldini replaces the goalscorer Cambiaso.
Italy 1-3 France
21:23 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne77 min: France change
ON: Barcola
OFF: Thuram
Italy 1-3 France
21:21 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne74 min: Bastoni wants a penalty following Kolo Muani’s challenge but has to settle for a corner which comes to nothing.
Italy 1-3 France
21:18 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne71 min: Italy just haven’t got to grips at defending set-pieces tonight and Rabiot has been the biggest beneficiary.
He’s on a hat-trick with less than 20 minutes to play.
Italy 1-3 France
21:17 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne69 min: Cambiaso goes close to reducing the deficit once again as his effort flies just wide.
Italy 1-3 France
21:15 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne66 min: Italy respond with a triple change
ON: Raspadori, Kean, Rovella
OFF: Frattesi, Locatelli, Retegui
GOAL! Italy 1-3 France | Adrien Rabiot '65
21:12 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne65 min: It’s that same combination again as Rabiot heads home Digne’s free-kick.
Italy 1-2 France
21:09 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne62 min: Locatelli’s turn to let fly but his left footed effort clears the crossbar by some distance.
Italy 1-2 France
21:07 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne60 min: Di Marco lines one up after Kounde’s headed clearance tees him up but he gets the effort all wrong.
Italy 1-2 France
21:04 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne57 min: Decent effort from Nkunku which zipped off the surface but Vicario makes the save.
Italy 1-2 France
21:03 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne56 min: France have the likes of Barcola, Olise and Kante all warming up.
Some very decent options at Didier Deschamps’ disposal.
Italy 1-2 France
21:01 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne54 min: Scary moment for Italy as Cambiaso squanders possession in his own defensive third but Thuram’s effort is blocked.
Italy 1-2 France
20:57 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne51 min: Tonali deals with Digne’s corner this time as he heads the ball away at the near post.
Italy 1-2 France
20:56 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne50 min: The ball falls to Di Marco but his effort takes a slight deflection which makes the save very comfortable for Maignan.
No sign of Italy settling for this scoreline.
Italy 1-2 France
20:54 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne47 min: Forceful run from Sandro Tonali as he carries Italy up the pitch, unfortunately it leads to nothing as Maignan smothers a loose ball and prevents a corner.
Italy 1-2 France
20:51 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneSecond half is underway.
Second half imminent
20:49 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneWe’re just minutes away from kick-off in the second half and what an intriguing half in store.
France have to go for it to win the group which should leave space for Italy to exploit.
As things stand
20:41 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThis scoreline means Italy and France are both on 13 points, but the latter need to win by two goals or more to top the group.
Half-time
20:34 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThat’s the half-time whistle at the San Siro and what a lively half that was.
France raced into a two-goal lead but Andrea Cambiaso’s goal means Italy are on course to top the group.
Italy 1-2 France
20:32 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne45 min: One minute of added time signalled.
Italy 1-2 France
20:31 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne43 min: Kolo Muani talks himself into a yellow card after Kounde is adjudged to have fouled Di Marco.
Italy 1-2 France
20:29 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne41 min: Italy pounce on a Rabiot loose touch but Barella’s cross flashes across goal with nobody in the area to take advantage.
Italy 1-2 France
20:25 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne38 min: It has been confirmed that France’s second goal will go down as an Vicario own goal.
GOAL! Italy 1-2 France | Andrea Cambiaso '35
20:22 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne35 min: Italy have a goal back as Di Marco picks out Cambiaso at the back post and it’s a good finish to reduce the deficit.
GOAL! Italy 0-2 France | Digne '33
20:21 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne33 min: Nkunku won the free-kick and but Digne won the battle to take it.
The left-back produces a brilliant effort to find the back of the net, although the ball did hit the crossbar and go in off Vicario.
Could be an own goal.
Italy 0-1 France
20:18 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne30 min: First yellow card of the game goes to Frattesi for bringing down Nkunku.
France have a free-kick in a very dangerous position.
Italy 0-1 France
20:16 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneLucas Digne marks his landmark appearance for France with an assist.
5️⃣0️⃣ caps for Rabiot
— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) November 17, 2024
5️⃣0️⃣ caps for Digne
The scorer and the provider celebrate their 50th in the best possible way! 🔥
🇮🇹0-1🇫🇷 | #ITAFRA | #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/8WwrWeBlHP
Italy 0-1 France
20:14 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne27 min: Italy enjoy a spell of possession, but it’s all in front of France who are showing excellent concentration levels.
Italy 0-1 France
20:12 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne24 min: Italy free-kick, taken by Di Marco, met by Di Lorenzo but he heads wide.
Difficult angle.
Italy 0-1 France
20:11 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne23 min: Coming together between Kounde and Tonali leaves both players on the floor.
Italy 0-1 France
20:10 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne22 min: Great persistence from Barella to win Italy a free-kick but there’s a brief pause in play as Manu Kone is down.
The Frenchman is fine to continue.
Italy 0-1 France
20:07 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne19 min: France look the more likely to grab a second, nice work from Manu Kone inside the box but he’s eventually crowded out.
Italy struggling to retain possession.
Italy 0-1 France
20:05 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne17 min: France push forward and the ball is pulled back for Guendouzi whose shot is high and wide.
Italy 0-1 France
20:03 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne15 min: France have done well to take the sting out of Italy’s response, but they need another goal to top the group.
Italy 0-1 France
20:02 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneAdrien Rabiot has marked his 50th cap for France in style!
Italy 0-1 France
19:59 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne11 min: Italy win a free-kick as Matteo Guendouzi is penalised for a foul on Sandro Tonali.
Italy 0-1 France
19:58 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne10 min: France have set up with a narrow midfield, Christopher Nkunku the most advanced as Marcus Thuram and Kolo Muani operating as split strikers.
Italy 0-1 France
19:56 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne8 min: Tonali’s free-kick is easily cleared by France before Maignan keeps out Barella’s effort from range.
Good response from Italy as they press for an equaliser.
Italy 0-1 France
19:54 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne6 min: That early goal has stunned the San Siro crowd but they are rallying behind this Italy team.
Reminder that France must win by two clear goals to top the group.
GOAL! Italy 0-1 France | Adrien Rabiot '2
19:50 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne2 min: What a start for France.
Adrien Rabiot heads home Lucas Digne’s corner to break the deadlock.
Italy 0-0 France
19:48 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne1 min: Slight injury concern for Italy as Bastoni stays down after grappling with Kolo Muani.
The Inter defender is fine to continue.
KICK-OFF!
19:47 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneWe are underway in this Nations League clash.
Here we go!
19:40 , Tashan Deniran-AlleynePlayers have emerged from the tunnel and out onto the pitch.
Time to hear the national anthems, then the player handshakes and then kick-off.
Vicario opportunity
19:35 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneBig chance for Tottenham’s Guglielmo Vicario to impress tonight as he wins his fourth cap for the Italy national team.
Big Vic in goal 🧤#ITAFRA #NationsLeague #Azzurri #VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/zDOuyozUF6
— Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri_En) November 17, 2024
Gigi Riva tribute
19:31 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneAhead of kick-off there will be a tribute to Gigi Riva; the former Italy striker, who died in January.
Not long now!
19:26 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneUnder 20 minutes to go until kick-off at the San Siro.
Italy are favourites to top group A2 but France have won both of their away games in this group, this should be an entertaining game.
Warm-ups
19:20 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneItaly’s pre-match warm-ups are underway.
Warm-up underway! 🔥#ITAFRA #NationsLeague #Azzurri #VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/RKOXwoYyMa
— Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri_En) November 17, 2024
Thuram chance
19:14 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneMarcus Thuram is familiar with the San Siro as he plays his club football on this ground with Inter Milan.
Tonight he starts for France looking to deny Italy top spot in group A2.
Stadium snaps
19:07 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThe atmosphere is building at the San Siro ahead of Italy vs France.
France results
19:00 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneHere’s how France have fared in the Nations League:
France 1-3 Italy
France 2-0 Belgium
Isreal 1-4 France
Belgium 1-2 France
France 0-0 Isreal
France alterations
18:51 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThe France XI is rather interesting as Dayot Upamecano, Theo Hernandez, N’Golo Kante, Eduardo Camavinga, Warren Zaire-Emery, Michael Olise and Bradley Barcola drop out.
William Saliba, Lucas Digne, Matteo Guendouzi and Marcus Thuram among those drafted in.
Ibrahima Konate captain.
One change for Italy
18:46 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneJust the one change to the Italy team that started the 1-0 win over Belgium three days ago as Manuel Locatelli comes into central midfield at the expense of Nicolo Rovella.
France XI
18:39 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneFrance XI: Maignan; Kounde, Konate, Saliba, Digne; Guendouzi, Kone, Rabiot; Nkunku; Thuram, Kolo Muani
Italy XI
18:37 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneItaly XI: Vicario; Di Lorenzo, Buongiorno, Bastoni; Cambiaso, Tonali, Frattesi, Locatelli, Di Marco; Barella; Retegui
Italy form
18:32 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneItaly’s Nations League results:
France 1-3 Italy
Isreal 1-2 Italy
Italy 2-2 Belgium
Italy 4-1 Isreal
Belgium 0-1 Italy
Team news imminent...
18:20 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneAll the team news from San Siro is coming up.
The hosts have a decision to make in attack, whilst William Saliba could return in central defence for France.
Setting the stage
18:15 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneOne of football’s most iconic stadiums plays host to a heavyweight Nations League clash.
Temple of football 🏟️#NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/PYRhx0uFYf
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) November 17, 2024
Italy vs France head-to-head
18:10 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneItaly wins: 20
Draws: 10
France wins: 12
France training footage
18:06 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneFootage from the France players being put through their paces in a training session at San Siro has been released.
Ending the year on a high note 👊
— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) November 17, 2024
🇮🇹🇫🇷 at 20:45#ITAFRA #FiersdetreBleus
pic.twitter.com/5uygExRTCC
Permutations
18:05 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneSo here's the state of play ahead of kick-off.
- Italy and France are both through to the quarter-finals.
- Italy will finish first if they avoid defeat by France by two goals or more.
- France will finish first if they beat Italy by two goals or more.
Last time out
18:00 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneItaly beat Belgium 1-0 last Thursday thanks to a goal from Newcastle United's Sandro Tonali but France laboured to a goalless draw at home to Isreal.
Deschamps back in Italy
17:55 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneDidier Deschamps played in Italy for five years in the 90’s as an Juventus player and he’s happy to be back.
"Italy vs France? I assure you that as a player it was a special match.
"I'm always happy to return to Italy. I spent many years here and they were wonderful years."
Spalletti's thoughts
17:50 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneItaly boss Luciano Spalletti addressed the media in a news conference yesterday and he's vowed the players will be out to impress supporters inside San Siro.
"The stadium will be full and we had 7 million spectators on TV for the game against Belgium.
"These are numbers which require that we show commitment and obsessive seriousness in this match. I'm sure we will play the game that the people who love us and who will come to watch us deserve."
Mbappe absence explained
17:45 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneTonight's clash decides the winner of Group A2.
However, France will have to do so without the help of Kylian Mbappe and here's why.
Prediction
17:40 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneFrance haven't been at their best during this Nations League campaign and it will be interesting to see how they approach this game with a quarter-final place already secured.
As for the hosts, they are looking to preserve their unbeaten run in the group and they've been impressive at home.
Italy to win, 2-1.
France team news
17:35 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThe big team news for France is Kylian Mbappe will not feature having not been called up for this round of fixtures by Didier Deschamps.
Elsewhere Ibrahima Konate and Dayot Upamecano started against Israel, though one of them could be replaced by Arsenal's William Saliba.
Italy team news
17:30 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneNo fresh injury concerns have been reported for Italy following Thursday’s win over Belgium, but there could be a change in attack with Moise Kean leading the line instead of Mateo Retegui.
How to watch
17:25 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneTV channel: In the UK, the game will not be televised.
Live stream: Fans can catch the contest live online via the Viaplay International YouTube channel.
LIVE coverage: Follow all the action with Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog!
Welcome
17:18 , Alex YoungGood evening and welcome to the Standard’s LIVE coverage of the Nations League clash between Italy and France.
It is a heavyweight clash to sign off with in League A2. Both teams have already secured their spots in the quarter-finals.
The Azzurri sit top, can Les Bleus topple them at the last? Kick-off is at 7.45pm GMT.
