Zinedine Zidane’s home debut as France manager ended in frustration as Italy recovered to draw 1-1 at the Stade de France, with Alessandro Bastoni cancelling out Michael Olise’s spectacular opener before Dayot Upamecano was sent off.
France controlled possession early on but Italy missed the clearest chance of the opening stages. Michael Kayode’s low cross found Moise Kean close to goal, but he struck straight at Mike Maignan.
The hosts then went close when Doue’s deflected cross clipped the crossbar. Italy wasted another opportunity before half-time, with Davide Frattesi’s shot from Michael Kayode’s long throw taking a deflection and passing narrowly wide of the left post.
France finally made their pressure count 10 minutes after the interval. Rayan Cherki won a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area and rolled the ball to Olise, who fired an unstoppable effort in off the underside of the crossbar.
Italy equalised in the 68th minute, despite having been second best for much of the second half. Adrien Rabiot’s pass put Lucas Da Cunha under pressure, and Bastoni seized possession before finishing confidently beyond Maignan.
France’s pursuit of a winner suffered another setback five minutes from time when Upamecano received a second yellow card for bringing down Kean. Italy held on to claim a valuable away point.
France still searching for attacking spark
The result means France remain top of Group A1 in the Nations League, but they have scored only once in each of their three matches.
France had previously beaten Belgium 1-0 without Kylian Mbappe, with Olise also proving decisive in that game. His outstanding goal again provided the main attacking highlight, but it was not enough to secure Zidane victory.
Olise, Doue and Ousmane Dembele combined for 12 attempts, including six from Dembele, yet only Olise found a way past Gianluigi Donnarumma. The Italy goalkeeper made seven saves for Roberto Mancini’s side.
Mancini will have been the more satisfied manager after Italy won the expected goals battle 1.46 to 1.21. The visitors managed fewer shots than France, 14 to 18, and had significantly fewer touches in the opposition penalty area, 18 to 49.
France conceded eight shots before half-time, their highest total in a home match at that stage since the 2016 European Championship semi-final against Germany, when they allowed 11.
France XI: Maignan, Rabiot, Dembele, Upamecano, Lucas Da Cunha, Kalulu, Cherki, Olise, Adrien Truffert, Doue, Jeremy Jacquet.
France substitutes: Jean Butez, Kounde, Maxence Lacroix, Camavinga, Manu Kone, Esteban Lepaul, Barcola, Andy Diouf, Maghnes Akliouche, Yoro, Guillaume Restes.
Italy XI: Donnarumma, Bastoni, Kean, Frattesi, Tonali, Fagioli, Esposito, Calafiori, Giorgio Scalvini, Michael Kayode, Pio Esposito.
Italy substitutes: Di Lorenzo, Barella, Vicario, Scamacca, G. Mancini, Marco Carnesecchi, Samuele Ricci, Matteo Ruggeri, Maldini, Antonio Vergara, Issa Doumbia, Mohamed Ali Zoma.
