Italy beat France 3-1 in a UEFA Nations League match on Matchday 1 of the UEFA Nations League at Park Des Princes in Paris last Friday, September 6. After their disastrous campaign at the European Championships in 2024, it was a refreshing win for the Azzurri. It was also Italy’s first win in Paris in 70 years.
Luciano Spalletti’s men conceded a goal within the initial 15 seconds but recovered superbly after that to score thrice. Given the apparent quality on their side, Didier Deschamps’ France was quite disappointing. However, the Italians cannot take credit for their memorable win. The French’s underwhelming run thus continued after they were disappointed at the last European Championships.
Young players contributed to Italy’s win
Federico Di Marco, Davide Frattesi and Giacomo Raspadori scored for Italy on the day. None of them is more than 26, which means the Italians have a strong base and are ready for the future for at least the next five years.
With young defenders like Riccardo Calafiori and Alessandro Bastoni already there in the starting XI, the Azzurri should look forward to making a gradual improvement from a disappointing spell that has prevailed since their title triumph at the European Championships in 2021.
Spalletti will be boosted significantly by the win over the French, who have one of the strongest teams in the world at the moment. Di Marco’s excellent finish, which restored parity for his team, was also a treat to watch. Similarly, the one-touch passes that paved the way for Italy’s second goal were also excellent.
Italy will next face Israel on Monday, September 9. The Israelis suffered a 1-3 defeat at the hands of Belgium on Matchday 1, but it might prove to be a tougher proposition at home. It remains to be seen whether the Azzurri can keep the momentum going and notch up another win. The odds are undoubtedly in favour of them doing so.