The Nations League is back with an exciting showdown between France and Italy in Paris. Both teams are part of Nations League A, alongside Belgium and Israel in Group 2, with the top two advancing to the two-legged quarter-finals in March. France, the 2021 champions after defeating Spain 2-1 in the final, will look to reclaim their form. Meanwhile, Italy finished third in the last two editions of the competition.
France’s last appearance saw them exit Euro 2024 in Munich to eventual winners Spain. Despite being tournament co-favorites, Didier Deschamps’ team struggled, scoring just four goals in six matches. Their campaign was further hindered by Kylian Mbappe’s broken nose, and they became the first team in Euros history to reach the semi-finals without a goal from open play.
Italy also had a tough run at Euro 2024, but expectations were low due to Luciano Spalletti’s late appointment. Spalletti has since promised to rebuild the team, though it may take time for his vision to come together.
France vs. Italy: Head-to-Head Statistics
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France and Italy have a rich football rivalry, having faced each other 42 times. Italy holds the upper hand with 18 wins, while France has won 11 matches, and 13 games have ended in draws. In major competitions, their encounters are iconic, such as Italy’s victory over France in the 2006 World Cup final via penalties and France’s win over Italy in the Euro 2000 final with a golden goal. Their recent meetings have been more balanced, with France winning 3-1 in a 2018 friendly. Historically, Italy has performed better in competitive fixtures, but France has had key victories in major tournaments.
Italy’s defensive approach centers around keeping a well-organized and solid backline to limit the opposition’s chances of scoring. They emphasize structure, discipline, and tactical awareness, often sitting deeper and packing their half to restrict space. Offensively, they focus on counterattacks and set-pieces, using fast transitions from defense to attack. The team values patience, teamwork, and minimizing risks, leading to low-scoring matches where they aim to exploit their opponents’ errors.
France Vs Italy: Team News
France faces two injury concerns ahead of this match, with Real Madrid players Ferland Mendy and Aurelien Tchouameni picking up injuries in training. In response, Didier Deschamps has brought in debutants Michael Olise and Wesley Fofana, following their strong performances for their clubs.
On the other hand, Italy have made some notable changes to their squad. Leicester City’s Caleb Okoli has received his first call-up, while midfielder Sandro Tonali returns after serving a suspension. Coach Luciano Spalletti has excluded Nicolo Barella to allow him to undergo surgery. However, Italy will be missing Alessandro Bastoni due to a minor injury sustained during training.
Probable Starting XI
France predicted lineup (4-2-3-1):
Maignan (GK); Kounde, Konate, Saliba, Hernandez; Fofana, Kante; Dembele, Griezmann, Barcola; Mbappe
Italy predicted lineup (3-4-2-1):
Donnarumma (GK); Gatti, Buongiorno, Calafiori; Di Lorenzo, Cristante, Fagioli, Dimarco; Raspadori, Pellegrini; Retegui
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