France suffered their first defeat under head coach Zinédine Zidane, falling 3-1 away to Italy at the San Siro in a pivotal UEFA Nations League encounter.

Competing without captain Kylian Mbappé and a host of established first-team leaders, Les Bleus started brightly on the front foot and took the lead in the 10th minute. Capitalizing on a costly distribution error from Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, Michael Olise punished the hosts to put France ahead early.

Italy, however, restored parity with their very first clear-cut opportunity of the night through Pio Esposito. France pushed hard to regain control before the interval, squandering several openings and striking the woodwork twice through efforts from Bradley Barcola and Rayan Cherki—profligacy that proved costly after the break.

Despite Sebastiano Esposito missing a penalty for the hosts in the second half, the Azzurri eventually overpowered the visitors. Davide Frattesi fired Italy into the lead before Pio Esposito converted from the penalty spot to complete his brace and seal all three points.

The result leaves France needing a victory over Turkey on Sunday to secure a place in the Nations League quarter-finals, while Italy require only a draw against Belgium to confirm their progression.

UEFA Nations League 2026-27

Italy - France 3-1 (1-1)
Goals: Olise, 10 (0-1); Pio Esposito, 26 (1-1); Frattesi, 63 (2-1); Pio Esposito, 75 (3-1)

Italy: Donnarumma G.; Bastoni; Kayode M.; Scalvini; Calafiori; Tonali; Frattesi (Doumbia, 73); Barella (Ricci S., 90); Cambiaghi (Dimarco, 62); Esposito Se. (Vergara A., 62); Pio Esposito (Scamacca, 90)
Substitution: Dimarco (from 62); Vergara A. (from 62); Doumbia (from 73); Ricci S. (from 90); Scamacca (from 90)
Bench: Carnesecchi; Vicario G.; Ghilardi; Palestra; Romano; Fagioli; Koleosho
Yellow Cards: Pio Esposito 39; Bastoni 71

France: Maignan; Gusto (Kumbedi, 76); Jacquet; Truffert (Diouf A., 77); Upamecano; Olise; Rabiot; Da Cunha; Doue D. (Mayulu, 77); Cherki (Camavinga, 82); Barcola B. (Kroupi, 77)
Substitution: Kumbedi (from 76); Kroupi (from 77); Mayulu (from 77); Diouf A. (from 77); Camavinga (from 82)
Bench: Restes; Risser; Konate; Yoro; Zaire-Emery; Pagis
Yellow Cards: Jacquet 13; Kroupi 90