On a rain-soaked night at San Siro, a game that opened with a goalkeeper's costly mistake became a story of recovery, as Italy came back from behind to beat France 3-1 and claim the top spot in their Nations League group. It is the kind of evening that reminds us how quickly a single error can tilt a contest, and how a team's answer to adversity can matter more than the blunder itself. Francesco Pio Esposito, scoring twice, gave the home crowd a new name to hold onto, while France were left to reckon with what the night had cost them. The outcome rests now on the final round of matches, where
Italy Come From Behind to Beat France 3-1, Take Top Spot in Nations League Group
Italy needed only three minutes to recover from a missed penalty
Mark
Italy were behind after ten minutes. Why does this result feel bigger than a single comeback?
Mimi
Because of the history in it. It's Italy's first home win over France since 1962, and it keeps Mancini unbeaten in four since his return.
Mark
And the Esposito brothers are in the middle of it.
Mimi
Yes. Francesco Pio scored twice, while Sebastiano forced a save and then missed a penalty on the hour. Three minutes later Italy were in front anyway.
Luke
Worth noting the opener wasn't France's design. Donnarumma passed it straight to Olise. The report calls the goal a gift.
Mark
So France played well but were helped?
Mimi
Both things hold. They started electric without Mbappe and Dembele, and they hit the woodwork twice, through Barcola and Cherki's shot tipped onto the post.
Luke
Be careful with that, though. Hitting the post tells us France were close, not that they'd have won. Italy also had Cambiaghi's point-blank chance stopped by Maignan.
Mark
What's at stake on Sunday?
Mimi
Italy and France are both on 10 points, with Italy ahead on head-to-head. Italy visit Belgium, who have nine, and France host Turkiye.
Luke
What we don't know is how the tiebreakers play out if results change. The report only gives the current standings.
Il Polso
- Donnarumma's loose pass gifted Michael Olise an early lead, and France looked poised to run away with it.
- Italy responded with Esposito's finish before half-time, and the San Siro crowd roared back to life.
- Sebastiano Esposito's penalty sailed wide, a moment of wasted hope that threatened to let France slip free.
- Dimarco's cross and Frattesi's strike, followed by a second Esposito penalty, flipped the game to 3-1 in Italy's favour.
- Italy now sit top of Group A1 on 10 points, one ahead of France on head-to-head, with Belgium and Turkiye still to play out their final round on Sunday.
On a rain-soaked night at San Siro, a game that opened with a goalkeeper's costly mistake became a story of recovery, as Italy came back from behind to beat France 3-1 and claim the top spot in their Nations League group. It is the kind of evening that reminds us how quickly a single error can tilt a contest, and how a team's answer to adversity can matter more than the blunder itself. Francesco Pio Esposito, scoring twice, gave the home crowd a new name to hold onto, while France were left to reckon with what the night had cost them. The outcome rests now on the final round of matches, where a shared record and a head-to-head tiebreaker will decide who stands highest.
Under heavy rain at San Siro on Thursday, Italy turned a game that began with a goalkeeping blunder into a 3-1 win over France, and with it took first place in their Nations League group. Francesco Pio Esposito scored twice, handing Zinedine Zidane the first defeat of his time as France's head coach.
France arrived without Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, but played as though nothing were missing. Then came the gift: Donnarumma passed straight to Michael Olise, who slipped past a defender and scored after 10 minutes. The lead did not last long. Esposito finished a sharp chance from Nicolo Cambiaghi's cutback, and the stadium came alive.
The second half stayed end to end, with saves from both goalkeepers keeping the score level. Then Sebastiano Esposito missed a penalty, hitting it wide, and Italy's fortunes seemed to waver. Three minutes later, substitute Federico Dimarco crossed for Davide Frattesi, who put the hosts ahead. Another substitute, Antonio Vergara, won a second penalty, and Francesco Pio Esposito converted it to seal the win.
The result extends Roberto Mancini's strong start to his second spell as Italy coach, now unbeaten in four and their first home win over France since 1962. Italy top the group on 10 points, level with France but ahead on head-to-head. The final round comes on Sunday, when Belgium host Italy and Turkiye face France.
In pouring rain at San Siro on Thursday, Italy turned a game that began with a goalkeeping blunder into a 3-1 win over France, and with it took first place in their Nations League group. Francesco Pio Esposito scored twice, handing Zinedine Zidane the first defeat of his time as France's head coach.
France had arrived without Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, both out injured, but started as if nothing were missing. Desire Doue hit the side netting, first-time captain Adrien Rabiot forced a save from Gianluigi Donnarumma, and a rasping half-volley from Lucas Da Cunha flew narrowly wide. Then came the gift. Donnarumma passed the ball straight to Michael Olise, who skipped past a defender and fired in the opener after 10 minutes. It was Olise's fifth goal in five Nations League games, a mark bettered only by England captain Harry Kane's seven.
Italy's first real chance arrived in the 26th minute and they took it. Nicolo Cambiaghi drove to the byline and cut the ball back, and Esposito, the Inter Milan striker, finished with a deft touch. The goal woke the stadium. Two minutes later his brother Sebastiano threatened a second, forcing a sharp save from Mike Maignan. Before the break Bradley Barcola came closest for France, curling a shot from the edge of the box that struck the foot of the far post.
The second half stayed end to end. Rayan Cherki's rasping strike was tipped onto the post by Donnarumma, and Italy answered at the other end, where Maignan made a point-blank stop from Cambiaghi. Then Malo Gusto tripped Cambiaghi for a penalty. Sebastiano Esposito took it on the hour mark and hammered it wide.
Italy needed only three minutes to recover. Federico Dimarco, the Inter wing-back, had just come off the bench when he crossed for Davide Frattesi, who drilled in the goal that put the hosts ahead. Another substitute, Antonio Vergara, then won a second penalty when Dayot Upamecano brought him down. This time Francesco Pio Esposito stepped up and drove it into the bottom corner to make it 3-1.
The win extends a strong start to Roberto Mancini's second spell as Italy coach. His side are now unbeaten in four matches, and this was their first home win over France since 1962. Italy lead Group A1 on 10 points, level with France but ahead on head-to-head record. Belgium are third on nine points after a fifth straight defeat for bottom side Turkiye.
The final round is on Sunday, when Belgium host Italy and Turkiye travel to France.
Elsewhere on Thursday, Kane marked a record 126th England cap with the winning goal from the penalty spot in a 2-1 victory over Croatia at Wembley, which sent England into the Nations League last eight. He put England ahead in the 64th minute, five minutes after a sloppy equaliser, sending the ball down the middle as goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic dived left. It was his 92nd England goal, scored before 80,400 fans. Earlier, former goalkeeper Peter Shilton, the previous record holder since 1989, presented Kane with a commemorative token.
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