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What a night at San Siro. In front of more than 70,000 fans and newly crowned world champion Kimi Antonelli, Italy came from behind to beat France 3-1 and take another step towards the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals. A draw against Belgium on Sunday will be enough to qualify. A win in Brussels will see the Azzurri finish top of the group.
A month ago in Paris, Italy showed they could hold their own against Zidane’s side. In Milan, they went up a gear after half-time and got the win their performance deserved. Once again, it was Pio Esposito who found the equaliser, cancelling out Olise’s opener after a rare error from Gigio Donnarumma. Italy kept pushing after the break even after the elder Esposito brother missed a penalty. Frattesi and Pio struck to seal Italy’s first home win over France in 64 years and end a run of three straight defeats for the Azzurri at San Siro.
“It was a great performance,” said Roberto Mancini. “I’m really happy for the lads and for the fans. I hope they enjoyed it. This win means a lot. Now we have to go to Brussels and win to stay top.” Italy have won three and drawn one since their opening defeat against Belgium. More importantly, they are playing good football again and showing character. “The lads want to make amends and put everything that’s happened behind them. There’s still a long way to go and we have work to do. After the shock of going behind tonight, it could have turned into a rout. We did well to stay calm and respond. I liked everything about tonight.”
At his club’s home ground, Pio Esposito scored his first brace for Italy, taking his tally to nine goals in just 14 caps. “I’m really happy,” said the Inter striker. “This shirt means a lot and everyone dreams of wearing it. It’s an honour, and every time you put it on, you have to show you deserve it. With the penalty, I had an extra responsibility. I wanted to put the game to bed and make up for my brother’s miss.”
THE MEAZZA PAYS TRIBUTE TO MAZZOLA AND BARESI. Italy retained nine of the players who started in Paris a month earlier. Barella came in for Fagioli, and Cambiaghi replaced the injured Kean in a front three alongside the Esposito brothers. With Mbappé and Dembélé unavailable, Zidane could still turn to Olise, Barcola and Doué. Quite the front three. The evening began with a fitting tribute to Sandro Mazzola and Franco Baresi at the stadium they both called home. Sixty years ago, on 1 November 1966, another Italy great, Giacinto Facchetti, wore the captain’s armband for the first time in a friendly against the Soviet Union at the same ground.
PIO RESPONDS TO OLISE. With Kimi Antonelli watching, France made the stronger start. Les Bleus flew across the soaked pitch as if they were on wet-weather tyres. Donnarumma saved a Rabiot header with his feet, then gifted Olise the opener in the 10th minute with a costly error playing out from the back. Even the best make mistakes. It was a jolt for Italy, who struggled to cope with France’s pressing and looked vulnerable whenever their opponents’ front three surged forward. After Barcola nearly made it two for the visitors, Italy equalised with their first chance. Pio Esposito got to Cambiaghi’s low cross ahead of Upamecano and turned it home. Giuseppe Meazza is the only player to have had a better scoring record for Italy at the same age. France were dangerous whenever they had space to run into, and only the post denied Barcola after a blistering counter-attack. At half-time, France had 60% possession and nine shots to Italy’s four. The score was 1-1.
FRATTESI PUTS ITALY AHEAD AND PIO SEALS IT. Cherki had two chances early in the second half. The Manchester City midfielder tried to be too clever with his first finish, then struck a crisp right-footed shot from the edge of the box. His club teammate Donnarumma tipped it onto the post, making amends for his earlier error. Italy threatened at the other end when Cambiaghi came within inches of connecting after Pio flicked on Sebastiano Esposito’s low cross with his heel. On another break, Cambiaghi, one of the standout performers, was bundled over in the area by Malo Gusto. István Kovács paused for a second before pointing to the spot. Sebastiano Esposito stepped up, went for power and fired wide. The elder Esposito then made way for Vergara, while Dimarco replaced Cambiaghi. The Inter man quickly sent in a low cross for Frattesi, who showed his eye for goal again by steering it home to make it 2-1. A move from another substitute, Vergara, led to Italy’s second penalty of the night. This time Pio stepped up and converted for his ninth goal in just 14 appearances, putting his miss in Zenica well and truly behind him. The 70,000 at the Meazza got a Mexican wave going, and Antonelli left the stands smiling. Italy head to Brussels with renewed confidence, determined to take the final step and book their place in the quarter-finals.
YOUNG EDOARDO RECEIVES THE SAN FRANCESCO AWARD. At half-time, a nine-year-old fan named Edoardo received a special honour. He won the 2026 Premio San Francesco, which Minister for Sport and Youth Andrea Abodi established to mark the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi, patron saint of Italy. Edoardo, a goalkeeper for Foiano’s Primi Calci team from the province of Arezzo, showed admirable sportsmanship last summer in the final of the Città di Castiglione del Lago youth tournament. He told the referee that the ball had crossed the line, even though nobody else on the pitch or in the stands had noticed. It was a lesson in fair play worth more than a fine save.
ITALY 3-1 FRANCE (HT 1-1)
ITALY (4-3-3) Donnarumma; Kayode, Scalvini, Bastoni, Calafiori; Frattesi (72’ Doumbia), Tonali, Barella (90+2’ Ricci); S. Esposito (61’ Vergara), P. Esposito (90+2’ Scamacca), Cambiaghi (61’ Dimarco). Unused substitutes: Carnesecchi, Vicario, Fagioli, Palestra, Romano, Ghilardi, Koleosho. Head coach: Mancini.
FRANCE (4-3-3) Maignan; Gusto (77’ Kumbedi), Upamecano, Jacquet, Truffert (77’ Diouf); Cherki (81’ Camavinga), Da Cunha, Rabiot; Olise, Doué (77’ Mayulu), Barcola (77’ Kroupi). Unused substitutes: Restes, Risser, Konaté, Yoro, Zaire-Emery, Pagis. Head coach: Zidane.
Referee: I. Kovacs (Romania). Assistants: Marica and Tunyogi (Romania). Fourth official: S. Kovacs (Romania). VAR: Higler (Netherlands). AVAR: Popa (Romania).
Goals: 10’ Olise (FRA), 26’ P. Esposito (ITA), 63’ Frattesi (ITA), 75’ P. Esposito (ITA, pen).
Notes: Attendance 71,452. S. Esposito fired a penalty wide in the 60th minute. Jacquet (FRA), P. Esposito (ITA), Bastoni (ITA) and Kroupi (FRA) were booked.
UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE GROUP A1 FIXTURES, RESULTS AND STANDINGS
MATCHDAY 1 (25 SEPTEMBER)
Italy 0-2 Belgium
Türkiye 0-1 France
MATCHDAY 2 (28 SEPTEMBER)
Türkiye 1-4 Italy
Belgium 0-1 France
MATCHDAY 3 (2 OCTOBER)
France 1-1 Italy
Belgium 3-0 Türkiye
MATCHDAY 4 (5 OCTOBER)
Italy 3-1 Türkiye
France 4-1 Belgium
MATCHDAY 5 (12 NOVEMBER)
Türkiye 1-2 Belgium
Italy 3-1 France
Standings Italy and France 10 points, Belgium 9, Türkiye 0.
MATCHDAY 6 (15 NOVEMBER)
8:45 PM CET Belgium vs. Italy, King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels
8:45 PM CET France vs. Türkiye, Stade Matmut Atlantique, Bordeaux
