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Adrien Rabiot scored twice as France snatched top spot in Group A2 of the UEFA Nations League with a 3-1 victory over Italy at the San Siro.
With both sides’ Nations League quarter-final places already secured, Les Bleus claimed the two-goal win they required to leapfrog the Azzurri at the group summit.
Didier Deschamps’ side broke through after just three minutes when Lucas Digne’s outswinging corner was glanced home by Rabiot.
Digne was involved again as France doubled their lead in the 33rd minute, his delicious 25-yard free-kick bouncing in via a deflection off Italy goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.
The hosts responded to halve the deficit two minutes later with Federico Dimarco crossing for fellow wing-back Andrea Cambiaso to volley home at the far post.
However, France restored their two-goal buffer just after the hour mark. Digne and Rabiot combined once more with the latter heading home another superb set-piece delivery from the former.
Italy pushed for the goal they required to reclaim top spot. Cambiaso flashed a shot wide from distance, while substitute Moise Kean called Mike Maignan into action in stoppage time, but the visitors held out.
Talking Point – Les Bleus leapfrog Azzurri to snatch top spot
Although both sides’ qualification for the quarter-finals was already in the bag, there was still the matter of settling first place in the group.
In order to leapfrog Italy, who triumphed 3-1 in the reverse fixture, France needed to match that two-goal margin to prevail on goal difference.
Les Bleus did just that with a purposeful start culminated in an early goal that quickly settled them down to focus on the task at hand.
On the night of their 50th international appearances, it was fitting that Digne and Rabiot combined for two of the goals, while the full-back’s free-kick also led to the other.
It was Les Bleus’ maiden competitive victory over the Azzurri on Italian soil, while Luciano Spalletti’s side suffered their first defeat in six matches.
Player of the Match – Lucas Digne (France)
The left-back produced an all-action display, in which he was involved in all three of France’s goals.
As well as providing two pinpoint set-piece deliveries for Rabiot to head home, he was rather unfortunate not to be credited with his first international goal, after his wonderful free-kick ricocheted over the line via Vicario.
At the other end of the pitch, he won all four of his tackles, while delivering the most crosses for the visitors (five).
Player Ratings
Italy: Vicario 7, Di Lorenzo 6, Buongiorno 6, Bastoni 6, Cambiaso 8, Frattesi 6, Locatelli 6, Tonali 7, Dimarco 8, Barella 7, Retegui 6. Subs: Kean 6, Rovella 7, Raspadori 6, Maldini 6, Udogie 6.
France: Maignan 8, Kounde 7, Konate 7, Saliba 7, Digne 9*, Guendouzi 7, Kone 7, Rabiot 8, Nkunku 7, Thuram 7, Kolo Muani 7. Subs: Barcola 6, Pavard 6.
Match Highlights
3′ GOAL!!! ITALY 0-1 FRANCE (RABIOT): What a start for Les Bleus! Less than three minutes are on the clock when Rabiot climbs to meet Digne’s outswinging corner, and Dimarco cannot keep his header out on the line.
33′ GOAL!!! ITALY 0-2 FRANCE (VICARIO OG): What a stunning free-kick to double Les Bleus’ lead! Digne steps up to the ball, and whips a delicious 25-yard delivery into the top-right corner via the crossbar. It looks like his first international goal, but did go in off the back of Vicario. It has, therefore, gone down as an own-goal.
35′ GOAL!!! ITALY 1-2 FRANCE (CAMBIASO): The Azzurri are back in it! As he does so often for Inter on this turf, Dimarco gets forward from left-back to support his side’s attack. He whips a cross towards the far post, where the unmarked Cambiaso volleys home.
65′ GOAL! ITALY 1-3 FRANCE (RABIOT): Another Digne delivery. Another Rabiot header. Another goal for Les Bleus! The two former Paris Saint-Germain team-mates combine once more, with Digne’s outswinging free-kick guided in brilliantly by Rabiot. France restore their two-goal lead.
69′ JUST WIDE: Italy seek a response with Cambiaso looking to complete his brace. The Juventus man unleashes a fierce, sweeping effort from the edge of the area that flashes marginally wide of Maignan’s right post.
90+4′ WHAT A SAVE: A hopeful ball is lofted into the French box, and drops nicely for Kean. However, Maignan does brilliantly to push away the substitutes’ fierce instinctive strike.
Key Stats
- France have beaten Italy away in a competitive match for the first time.
- Italy have suffered their first defeat in six matches.