Italy vs France: Nations League - LIVE!
In Milan, two major European teams will clash as they compete for the top position in Nations League group A2. Italy and France have both secured their places in the quarter-finals, yet both nations are eager to achieve a significant victory as they prepare for the upcoming 2026 World Cup.
Following a frustrating early departure from the Euro 2024 tournament last summer, Italy has found new energy under coach Luciano Spalletti. They achieved a notable 3-1 victory against France in their previous encounter in September. The Italian team maintained their strong performance with a 1-0 win in Belgium on Thursday and remains unbeaten in their five Nations League matches.
France faced a disappointing 0-0 stalemate at home against Israel in the absence of their captain Kylian Mbappe, who was not selected by coach Didier Deschamps. The reasons for Mbappe’s exclusion remain unclear, putting Deschamps in the spotlight. The team that emerges at the top of the group will be guaranteed a top seed for next year's quarter-finals. Stay updated on the match with our live blog below.
54 minutes in: Italy faces a tense situation when Cambiaso loses the ball in his own defensive area, but fortunately, Thuram's shot gets blocked.
51 minutes: Tonali successfully clears Digne's corner, directing the ball away with a header from the front post.
50 minutes in: Di Marco receives the ball, but his shot hits a minor deflection, making it an easy save for Maignan.
Italy has no intention of accepting this score.
47th minute: Sandro Tonali makes a strong drive forward, pushing Italy into the offensive zone. Sadly, the effort doesn’t result in anything significant as Maignan quickly claims a loose ball and averts a corner kick.
We're only moments away from the start of the second half, and it looks like it's going to be an exciting period ahead.
France needs to be aggressive in their pursuit of winning the group, which could create opportunities for Italy to take advantage of.
With this result, both Italy and France have 13 points. However, for France to secure the top position in the group, they must win by a margin of at least two goals.
The first half has just come to a close at the San Siro, and it was a truly exciting period of play.
France quickly jumped ahead with a two-goal advantage, but Andrea Cambiaso’s goal keeps Italy in the running to lead the group.
45 minutes: One minute of stoppage time has been indicated.
At the 43-minute mark, Kolo Muani receives a yellow card after he argues about a foul call against Di Marco, which was ruled in favor of Kounde.
