Italy quickly recovered from an early setback to secure a 3-1 victory over France in a thrilling Nations League A Group 2 opener yesterday.
Bradley Barcola capitalized on a defensive error from Giovanni Di Lorenzo, scoring 12 seconds into the match by curling a shot past Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Italy responded 30 minutes in, with Federico Dimarco volleying home a clever back-heel pass from Sandro Tonali. After an exhilarating first half, the teams were tied at halftime.
Five minutes into the second half, Davide Frattesi put Italy in front, and Giacomo Raspadori widened the gap in the 74th minute, quieting the Parc des Princes crowd.
Both teams fought hard, seeking redemption after underwhelming performances at Euro 2024, but Italy clinched the crucial win.
The game began frantically, with Italy nearly equalizing five minutes later when Frattesi’s close-range header struck the crossbar.
Donnarumma made key saves from Kylian Mbappe and debutant Michael Olise before Italy equalized, with Tonali providing a stunning assist.
Tonali, returning from a 10-month ban for violating betting regulations, played a vital role, linking up beautifully with Dimarco, who fired a powerful volley past Mike Maignan.
“Italy showed strong form,” Italy manager Luciano Spalletti commented to RAI. “Despite concerns over Tonali’s fitness for the full 90 minutes, he delivered impressively.”
In the second half, Italy maintained momentum, with Mateo Retegui setting up Frattesi, who scored from close range. Shortly after, Maignan saved another attempt by Frattesi.
The crucial third goal came as two substitutes, Destiny Udogie and Raspadori, combined effectively, with Raspadori dodging William Saliba to score.
Despite France’s pressure to reverse the score, Italy held firm, capturing all three points.
