Italy comes back from France and Zidane suffers his first defeat as coach

Without Kylian Mbappé, absent due to injury, and without aim, France suffered its first defeat in the Nations League, the first also with Zinedine Zidane on the bench, surpassed by Italy (3-1) that leaves qualification for the quarterfinals of the group with everything to be decided for the last day and with two places to be distributed between these two teams and Belgium. The French team was especially diluted in the last half hour, where Italy, which resisted with solvency and faith for much of the match, took advantage of its chances and revolutionized the quartet. Except for Türkiye, France's next rival, the rest have options to advance in the competition. Italians and Gauls, with ten points, are the first two. Belgium, with nine after beating Turkey, is third. On Sunday, in Brussels, the Belgian team will host the transalpine team. Everything at stake.

France had the classification in its hand on this fifth day, in Milan. Not losing mathematically took them to the quarterfinals and victory, as first in the group. Nothing happened. He lost and his goal is up in the air. Zidane's team crashed into the woods, which started like a shot and gradually declined as the minutes passed until it fell into the hands of the local team that had not managed to win a game as host in the Nations League so far.

France had been undefeated in this tournament for nine games but came out of Milan badly despite the fact that at first it overwhelmed its opponent. Adrien Rabiot, with a header, Lucas Da Cunha, from outside the area, served as a letter of introduction for the visitors' intentions who opened the scoring after ten minutes. It was a huge mistake by goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma who sent the ball directly to Michael Olise. The Bayern Munich attacker advanced a few meters and took advantage of the gift to put France ahead, who were able to score more through Da Cunha and Bradley Barcola. But Mbappé's absence took its toll and the French team did not take advantage of any of the multiple opportunities they had.

Italy's first arrival came in the 26th minute and it was a goal. In a great one-on-one between Nicolo Cambiaghi, on the left wing, with Malo Gusto. The Italian left the Frenchman behind and reached the baseline. He sent the ball to the near post and striker Pio Esposito got ahead of his marker and beat Mike Maignan. It was the first chance, first goal. The goal gave wings to Roberto Mancini's team that stretched. Maignan had to respond to a shot from Pio Esposito inside the area although the play and dominance was French. Bradley Barcola hit the post, with Donnarumma beaten ten minutes before the break and at the beginning of the restart, in the 53rd minute, it was Rayan Cherki who hit the post with a shot from the edge of the area.

Italy breathed, finding its big chance at game time. Malo Gusto, very unwise throughout the game on the right side, blocked Nicolo Cambiaghi inside the area. It was a penalty. It was executed very poorly by Pio Esposito who threw wide, very wide from eleven meters. Italy, which was already in full growth, did not suffer the blow and thus took advantage. In the 63rd minute with a great pass from Davide Frattesi to Federico Dimarco who had just jumped onto the field. From the small area. It didn't fail.

Disoriented, France left the defense protected while desperately trying to tie. In a good game against Italy he forged the third. A clear foul inside the area, the arrival of helplessness, by Dayot Upamecano on Antonio Vergara was again a penalty. The transalpine scorer did not fail and Pio Esposito sentenced France and revolutionized the group, now with everything to decide.