Nations League, Italy loses game and first place in the group against France

Nations League, against France Italy loses match and first place in the group

At the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium in Milan, Italy lost 3-1 to France in the last match of the Nations League group stage. Both teams were already qualified for the quarterfinals but Spalletti’s national team also surrendered first place in the grouping to Deschamps’ Frenchmen.

The Bleus immediately took the lead in the third minute, and it wasn’t the first time the Azzurri conceded a goal in the early stages against the transalpine cousins: on a corner kick from the left by Digne Rabiot Rabiot scored a header anticipating Buongiorno and beating Vicario, whom Spalletti deployed at the last moment to replace the ailing Donnarumma.

On 9’ Barella tried with a direct shot to the low corner but Maignan blocked in two times in the dive. There’è nothing else for the Azzurri until on 33’ France doubled the score, with a left-footed shot by Digne on a free kick, slammed on the cross of the posts and then on Vicario’s back and ended up in the goal: bad luck for Vicario!

At 35’ the Azzurri shake off and shorten the distance: exchange Tonali-Dimarco on the left, cross of the interista in the middle of the area where there’è Cambiaso who with the left pierces Maignan. In the resumption, at 58’ Nkunku shoots from far away, Vicario rejects with difficulty; but Bastoni manages to sweep away.

On 65’ the award-winning Digne-Rabiot strikes again: a free kick from the left by the former Roma man and a second winning header by the former Juventus man that again surprises the defense and Vicario. In 69’ Cambiaso tries from distance and sends out just wide.

The Azzurri’s final assault è futile, the biggest chance happens to Kean as time expires but Maignan denies him the goal. France and Italy end the round with the same score but the transalpines are first because of the best goal difference: 12-6 vs. 13-8.