Mounting what was a famous comeback on Friday night, Italy opened their Nations League adventure with a 3-1 victory against France in Paris.
Watching PSG starlet Bradley Barcola open the scoring with just 12 seconds on the clock as the 22-year-old pounced on the Azzurri’s mistake at the back, Les Bleus couldn’t have dreamt of a better start on home soil.
However, failing to find any kind of fluidity and build on their dramatic early advantage, Inter Milan’s Federico Dimarco levelled with a sensational volley from Sandro Tonali’s flicked pass.
Despite never collecting a competitive victory in the French capital, Lucian Spalletti’s side came flying out of the traps after returning from the half-time break as Davide Frattesi produced a clinical finish.
With the French support audibly frustrated for large spells, Italy wrapped up what was a famous Nations League win as Tottenham defender Destiny Odogie linked up with Napoli’s Giacomo Raspadori in the final 15 minutes.
Showing no signs of a hangover following on from their EURO 24 frustration over the summer, Italy couldn’t have wished for a better start here.
On a night when the Azzurri opened their Nations League campaign with a major statement of intent, we have taken a look at the key talking points from Paris.
Italy open their Nations League campaign with a famous scalp
Crashing out of the European Championships back on June 29th following an infamous 2-0 defeat against Switzerland in the Round of 16 stage, Italy have certainly found a huge amount of pressure on their shoulders.
Only just about dragging themselves to the knockout stage over the summer and failing to find any kind of stability on the major tournament stage, the Azzurri appeared to have another heavyweight challenge on their hands here.
Chasing a 1-0 deficit after handing France an early gift in the opening minute, Spalletti’s camp wouldn’t have been blamed for already starting to prepare for another backlash when they returned home.
However, despite falling to a 3-1 loss when they last travelled to Paris back in the summer of 2018, Italy produced what will be remembered as an astonishing comeback on foreign soil.
Collecting a first ever competitive victory in the French capital and drawing a line under their EURO 24 struggle, Friday’s guests will be smelling the chance to lay down another marker when they meet Israel on Monday night.
France show more attacking issues
Opening the scoring in a sensational fashion here as Barcola slotted home with just 12 seconds on the clock, France were desperate to make an early Nations League statement here and turn a much-needed attacking corner.
However, while striking superstar Kylian Mbappe might have opened his La Liga account with Real Madrid thanks to a brace against Real Betis last weekend, Les Bleus once again showed their toothless side on Friday night.
Despite making the trip over to Germany this summer pencilled in as a leading title contender, the European giants largely flattered to deceive and have gained a recent reputation for their struggles in the final third.
Failing to ask any real questions of Gianluigi Donnarumma’s goal following Barcola’s dramatic early opener, France have now failed to notch more than a single strike in any of their previous eight appearances across all competitions.
Likewise, the Blues also remarkably only recorded a pair of goals from open play during their EURO 24 adventure over in Germany during the summer.
More pressure on Deschamps’ shoulders
Eventually watching their EURO 24 campaign come to a semi-final finish after falling to a 2-1 loss against eventual winners Spain, there was plenty of scrutiny over Didier Deschamps’ future.
While the FFA might have stuck with their man following France’s World Cup final heartbreak out in Qatar during the winter of 2022, many Les Blues fans were hoping for a change in the dugout this summer.
However, with Deschamps still at the helm and showing no signs of handing over the reigns, the former French skipper will know that the pressure on his shoulders will soon reach a boiling point.
With many around Paris believing that Deschamps is unable to get the best out of France’s all-star attack, the likes of Mbappe have struggled to find any real ruthlessness over the past 20 months.
Suffering what will be remembered as an infamous collapse on home soil here and the home support clearly left frustrated at the final whistle, Deschamps will be demanding a crucial response next week.
Match Report
France: Maignan, Clauss, Konate, Saliba, Hernandez, Fofana, Kante, Olise, Griezmann, Barcola, Mbappe
Subs: Kounde, Kone, Thuram, Dembele, Zaire-Emery
Italy: Donnarumma, Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Calafiori, Dimarco, Cambiaso, Frattesi, Ricci, Tonal, Pellegrini, Retegui
Subs: Buongiorno, Kean, Brescianini, Raspadori, Udogie
Goals: France: Barcola (1’) – Italy: Dimarco, Frattesi, Raspadori
Yellow Cards: France: Kone – Italy: Retegui
Red Cards: N/A
Referee: Sandro Scharer
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