France is set to host Italy in their third UEFA Nations League encounter on Friday at Stade de France.
Zinedine Zidane’s men will look to make it three wins in a row in this tournament, while Italy will be looking to build their momentum after a big win in their last match.
France vs Italy – Match preview and team news
- Date: Friday, 2nd October.
- Kick-off: 7:45pm BST.
- Venue: Stade de France, Saint-Denis.
France team news
Head coach Zinedine Zidane faces a major selection crisis in attack as captain Kylian Mbappé has been sent home after sustaining a knee tendon injury against Türkiye.
Les Bleus are also heavily depleted in defence, with star center-backs William Saliba and Ibrahima Konaté both missing this international camp entirely due to pre-existing injuries.
Adding to the squad’s woes, winger Bradley Barcola was forced to withdraw early with a severe thigh strain. Following heavy rotation in the recent 1-0 victory over Belgium, Zidane is expected to recall his core stars.
Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, Manu Koné, and Adrien Rabiot are all poised to return to the starting eleven. In Mbappé’s absence, 21-year-old Désiré Doué is expected to start on the left wing, while Maxence Lacroix continues his partnership with teenager Jeremy Jacquet in central defence.
Italy team news
Roberto Mancini continues to fine-tune his fluid 4-3-3 tactical system following a comprehensive victory over Türkiye, though his squad has suffered fresh setbacks.
Forward Giacomo Raspadori was forced out of the training camp after picking up a thigh injury, while Nicolò Zaniolo faces a month on the sidelines due to a hamstring strain.
On a positive note, Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori returns to the backline alongside Alessandro Bastoni and Giorgio Scalvini.
At right-back, Brentford’s youngster Michael Kayode is heavily tipped to start ahead of veteran Giovanni Di Lorenzo after finding the net in Bursa.
The Azzurri midfield will be anchored by the stellar trio of Nicolò Barella, Sandro Tonali, and Nicolò Fagioli. Up front, the highly-rated Esposito brothers—Francesco Pio and Sebastiano Esposito—are strongly in contention to lead the attacking trident alongside Daniel Maldini.
Form
France
France are in stellar form, sitting comfortably at the top of Group A1 with a perfect six points from two matches. Under new manager Zinedine Zidane, Les Bleus have established a rock-solid foundation, scoring two goals and conceding zero. They kicked off their UEFA Nations League campaign with a gritty 1-0 victory away against Türkiye, followed by another highly disciplined 1-0 home win over Belgium, courtesy of a late Michael Olise strike.
Italy
Italy sit third in the group with three points after a mixed start. Roberto Mancini’s side suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Belgium in their opening game but rebounded emphatically in their second match. The Azzurri delivered a dominant performance to thrash Türkiye 4-1 in Bursa, highlighted by clinical finishes from Alessandro Bastoni, Davide Frattesi, and young forward Pio Esposito, displaying immense attacking potential.
Predicted lineups
France: Maignan; Kalulu, Upamecano, Lacroix, Truffert; Cherki, Kone, Rabiot; Olise, Dembele, Doue
Italy: Donnarumma; Kayode, Scalvini, Bastoni, Calafiori; Barella, Fagioli, Tonali; S. Esposito, P. Esposito, Cambiaghi
How to watch France vs Italy?
You can watch the France vs. Italy UEFA Nations League match live in the UK tonight on Amazon Prime Video.
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