MILAN (The Thursday Times) — Francesco Pio Esposito scored twice as Italy came from behind to beat France 3-1 at San Siro on Thursday, handing Zinedine Zidane his first defeat as France coach and moving to the top of their Nations League group.
France, without the injured Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, went ahead in the 10th minute when Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma passed the ball straight to Michael Olise, who beat a defender and fired in. It was Olise’s fifth goal in five Nations League games.
Italy levelled in the 26th minute with their first real chance, when Nicolo Cambiaghi cut the ball back from the byline and Esposito turned it in from close range. Bradley Barcola then hit the foot of the post for France before half-time.
Missed penalty, then a turnaround
Donnarumma tipped a Rayan Cherki shot onto the post early in the second half. On the hour, Esposito’s brother Sebastiano blasted a penalty wide after Cambiaghi was tripped by Malo Gusto.
Three minutes later Davide Frattesi put Italy ahead, driving in a cross from substitute Federico Dimarco. Another substitute, Antonio Vergara, then won a second penalty when Dayot Upamecano tripped him, and this time Pio Esposito made no mistake, firing into the bottom corner.
It was Italy’s first home win over France since a friendly in May 1962. France had failed to win only once before under Zidane, in a 1-1 draw with Italy in Paris.
The result puts Italy top of Group A1 on 10 points, level with France but ahead on their head-to-head record. Belgium are third on nine points after beating Turkiye, who have now lost five games in a row.
