Italy forward Esposito said competing against France’s elite players had increased both his confidence and the team’s determination after the sides drew 1-1 in the third round of the UEFA Nations League group stage.
Speaking to the official FIGC channel, Esposito said Italy could be satisfied with their performance in a difficult away fixture against one of the world’s leading teams.
“It’s never easy to play such a high-level match away against France, so I’m very satisfied with my individual performance and the team’s overall display,” he said.
Esposito felt Italy produced a high-quality performance and showed particular strength during several stages of the match, although he acknowledged there were areas where they could have been more effective.
“Perhaps at specific moments we could have managed possession and tactical execution better, but we showed great dedication, sacrifice and resilience,” he said.
Italy had less of the ball than in their match against Turkey, but Esposito believed their defensive organisation was a major positive.
He added: “I think we fully enjoyed having the ball on the pitch although our possession wasn’t as high as against Turkey, we were very solid defensively. Everyone was fully committed and relished the high-quality challenge.”
The forward was also asked whether taking on France’s leading players directly could provide a boost to Italy’s belief and competitive spirit.
“Absolutely,” he replied. “Even if the French team isn’t currently the strongest in the world, they are definitely one of the top teams globally.”
Esposito said the opportunity to test themselves against such opposition had a wider impact than the result alone, helping Italy maintain their focus while strengthening their desire to compete.
“It’s exciting to compete against these elite superstars; it greatly enhances your confidence, focus and desire to play,” he said. “Playing against such world-class opponents is always a tremendous honour.”
He also praised Italy’s response to the pressure applied by France during the match, saying the team had remained united while dealing with repeated attacks.
“I think we successfully withstood their relentless attacks and persevered, and for that, I’m very happy,” Esposito said.
