League of Nations: the Blues take on water in Italy, first defeat for Zidane

The test was expected. And Zinédine Zidane's France fell to Italy (3-1), for the new coach's first defeat. In a strange match, initially controlled by the visitors but which finally slipped away after too many individual errors, the Blues revealed their deficiencies. And the projects to come. The high level forgives nothing, and even when you play well, you have to do the essential: score goals. A realism that the Tricolores sorely lacked on Thursday, they who lost the lead in the ranking of their group in the League of Nations to the benefit of the Squadra Azzurra. The two teams have a total of 10 points after five days.

For his reunion with Italy, Zidane was not surprised by the hostility of a Milan public who only have bad memories of him. This is evidenced by the whistles against him and, more grotesquely, those about the Marseillaise. This welcome, under the Lombard flood and a pitch unworthy of an international meeting, initially changed nothing in the desire for audacity, conquest and play of this French team.

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Gift signed Donnarumma

Without Mbappé or Dembélé, the Blues remained on the tone of the premises glimpsed last month. A desire for panache, mixed with a certain technicality. And in addition, Donnarumma had the good idea to offer, on a missed clearance, the opening score to Olise (0-1, 10th). Yet another error (38th of his career), which reminds us why Luis Enrique let him go to PSG…

Despite Dantean conditions, France did not give up its desire to play, facing Italians close to drowning. The break seemed close... before Gusto was devoured by Cambiaghi, a modest winger from Bologna, on Esposito's equalizer (1-1, 26th). His nightmare was only just beginning... Cruel for Zidane's gang, who always continued with this ambition of conquest, as in this classy action, a mixture of accuracy and intelligence of the game, concluded by a strike on Barcola's post (35th). Or the opportunities from Cherki on the post (52nd) and Rabiot (57th).

Shipwreck of Gusto

Limited technically but extremely valiant, Italy had the merit of never giving up... and of insisting on Gusto, bad from start to finish. It is the Blues side who causes a penalty (58th), finally missed pitifully by Esposito, before being too far away from the mark on Frattesi's goal (2-1, 63rd). The right-back position is devastated in France and Gusto - who has played very little this season with Chelsea - is an example. A stone in the garden of Zinédine Zidane who had better on the bench with Zaire-Emery.

From there, the Blues sank, like the penalty conceded by Upamecano and validated by Esposito (3-1, 74th), author of a double, in a San Siro in trance. And an unbreathable end to the match for the French standing KO. Beauty and intentions are not enough, you also have to know how to be clinical and realistic. Italy took advantage of it. On Sunday, France will have to validate its ticket to the quarter-finals against Turkey. Has the lesson been learned?