Italy proved they have a serious problem dealing with set plays, falling 3-1 at San Siro to France with an Adrien Rabiot brace, losing top spot of the Nations League group.
Both sides were already qualified for the quarter-finals, but a point would suffice for the Azzurri to win the group and get top seed status in the draw. They could even lose by a single goal, but two has them level on head-to-head status, with France’s superior overall goal difference.
Gianluigi Donnarumma had a stomach bug with Samuele Ricci, Riccardo Calafiori and Lorenzo Pellegrini injured, but Manuel Locatelli for Nicolò Rovella was the only change to the outfield players from Thursday’s 1-0 win in Belgium. Les Bleus had Eduardo Camavinga suspended, Theo Hernandez only fit for the bench, Kylian Mbappé, Aurelien Tchaouameni, Ousmane Dembele and Wesley Fofana out.
See how it unfolded on the Liveblog.
It took just 119 seconds to break the deadlock, as Lucas Digne whipped in a corner for the head of former Juventus midfielder Rabiot, nodding in from six yards despite a Federico Dimarco attempt at a goal-line clearance. It was a repeat of September in Paris, when France had taken the lead in the opening minute, but Italy fought back to win 3-1.
Barella tested Mike Maignan from the edge of the box, but Les Bleus doubled their advantage when Digne’s free kick went over the wall and bounced off the underside of the crossbar, ricocheting in off Vicario’s back.
Italy got back into it moments later, Federico Dimarco completing a give and go with Sandro Tonali down the left and his cross from the by-line volleyed in by Andrea Cambiaso with the inside of the left boot from nine yards.
Marcus Thuram robbed Cambiaso inside his own penalty area only for Giovanni Di Lorenzo to charge down the effort, while Vicario parried the sudden Christopher Nkunku snapshot from distance.
Dimarco shinned a half-volley well wide from a promising position, as did Manuel Locatelli from the edge of the area.
Instead, France struck yet again from a set play, Digne floating a free kick into the box where Rabiot was far more aggressive than Locatelli to steer the header over Vicario, the goalkeeper caught off his line. It was the sixth goal in a row Italy conceded from a set play scenario.
Cambiaso bent a screamer inches wide from outside the box moments later, while Moise Kean failed to get control of a Dimarco ball rolled across as he held off William Saliba.
Rovella fired straight at Maignan from distance in the final minute and Alessandro Bastoni’s attempt charged down by Saliba in stoppages.
Maignan made his only real save in stoppages to deny Kean from 10 yards, parrying at the near post to keep that two-goal cushion intact.
Italy 1-3 France
Rabiot 2, 65 (F), Vicario og 33 (F), Cambiaso 35 (I)
Player statistic
| 2' |  |
Adrien Rabiot (Assist: Lucas Digne) | ||
| Davide Frattesi |  |
31' | ||
| 33' |  |
Guglielmo Vicario | ||
| Andrea Cambiaso (Assist: Federico Dimarco) |
|
35' | ||
| 44' | |
Randal Kolo Muani |
| 65' | |
Adrien Rabiot (Assist: Lucas Digne) | ||
| 90+3' | |
Mattéo Guendouzi |
Match statistic
Definition of arrogance and superficiality.
Deservedly beaten. Never ever looked like competing. Turned up to get beat.