The French went to Milan with the task of erasing the stain that was undoubtedly the shameful 0-0 draw with Israel. The Italians wanted to repeat the result from Brussels, where they defeated the Belgians 1-0. The only goal was scored by Sandro Tonali. The Newcastle United midfielder was included in the starting eleven for Sunday's European football classic.
Beautiful goals in Milan. The classic did not disappoint
It is worth recalling that both teams faced each other in the first round of this edition of the Nations League. In Saint-Denis near Paris, at the Parc des Princes, the Italians were on top, and although they lost after a goal by Bradley Barcola, they won 3-1. Federico Dimarco, Davide Frattesi and Giacomo Raspadori scored their goals.
On Sunday evening, from the very first minutes, the fans gathered at San Siro had something to watch. In the 3rd minute of the match, Lucas Digne sent a cross from a corner kick, and Adrien Rabiot jumped highest into the air. The former Juventus midfielder left the Milan crowd silent. His header was accurate and Alessandro Buongiorno, who was trying to save the Italians, could do nothing.
The French were leading and did not impose a crazy pace, and yet half an hour later they were leading 2-0. Digne played the main role again. This time, Aston Villa's defender approached the ball placed in front of the penalty area and shot from a free kick, beating the helpless Guglielmo Vicario. Although in the end the goal was chalked off as an own goal by Tottenham's goalkeeper.
The ball bounced accidentally off the goalkeeper before it entered the net. For two minutes, the French were in virtual first place in the group. However, Federico Dimarco carried out an excellent action. The Inter shuttle entered the penalty area and played the ball to Andrea Cambiaso, who was running in the sixteenth position. The Juventus player – just like in the October match against Belgium – scored and gave the Italians a chance.
Again, Italia was the virtual leader of the group table. With this result, both teams went to the locker room. In the second half the situation changed again. In the 66th minute of the match, Lucas Digne crossed the ball from a free kick, and Rabiot again performed best in the penalty area. His header again surprised Maignan. The experienced midfielder, who had previously scored four goals in 48 matches for the national team, scored for the second time that evening.
As calculated by OptaJean's profile, for the first time since 1991, the French scored three goals from set pieces in one match. The last time they did this was in the match against Albania. This goal meant that the Tricolor team was once again in first place in the group.
Luciano Spalletti reacted immediately with changes. Nicolo Rovella, Moise Kean and Giacomo Raspadori appeared on the pitch. In the 78th minute, the Italian coach sent Daniele Maldini into the fight – it was a special moment. His grandfather and father went down in gold medals in the history of Milan – the club. at whose stadium Sunday's match was played.
None of the substitutes managed to change the fate of the match. In stoppage time, Kean's shot was brilliantly saved by Maignan. France carried the victory until the final whistle and consequently took first place in the group.
In the second match of Group 2 of Division A, Israel hosted Belgium. In Budapest – on neutral ground – there was a surprise. The goal scored by Yarden Shua in the 85th minute gave coach Shimon's team a sensational three points.
Group 2 Division A table:
1. France – 6 games, 13 points, goals: 12:6
2. Italy – 6 games, 13 points, goals: 13:8
3. Belgium – 6 games, 5 points, goals: 6:9
4. Israel – 6 games, 4 points, goals: 5:13
Italy 1:3 France (1:2)
Goals: Andrea Cambiaso' 35 – Adrien Rabiot' 3' 66, Guglielmo Vicario' 33sam
Italy: Vicario (gk) – Di Lorenzo, Buongiorno, Bastoni – Cambiaso (78' Maldini), Frattesi (66' Raspadori), Locatelli (66' Rovella), Tonali, Dimarco (83' Udogie) – Barella (k) – Retegui (66' Kean)
coach: Luciano Spalletti
France: Maignan (gk) – Kounde (82' Pavard), Konate (k), Saliba, Digne – Guendouzi, Kone, Rabiot – Nkunku, Marcus Thuram (78' Barcola), Kolo Muani
coach: Didier Deschamps