France played out a 1-1 draw with Italy in their UEFA Nations League Matchday 3 encounter on October 2, 2026. The match at Stade de France marked Zinédine Zidane’s first home game as manager of the national team, with Michael Olise scoring for France and Alessandro Bastoni netting the equaliser for Italy.
Match Overview
Les Bleus struggled to find an attacking edge against Roberto Mancini’s well-organised Italian defence. While France maintained possession in Italy’s half early on, the visitors posed a significant threat on the counter-attack. Despite some sleek team movement, France failed to register a shot on target in the first half, with Italy’s defence proving adept at blocking attempts.
The second half saw France increase their tempo, forcing Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma into several crucial saves. The deadlock was eventually broken by Michael Olise, who struck a brilliant free-kick that found the underside of the crossbar before going in, sending the home crowd into celebration.
Late Drama and Discipline
Italy, who had been less threatening in the second period, found an equaliser through Alessandro Bastoni. The defender capitalised after Lucas Da Cunha was closed down, slotting the ball past Mike Maignan to restore parity. France subsequently lost control in the closing stages of the match, and their woes deepened when Dayot Upamecano was sent off for two bookable offences. The Bayern Munich defender will now miss France’s upcoming home game against Belgium.
Despite late chances for both sides, including Italy chasing an unlikely winner and Donnarumma making further saves, neither team ultimately deserved to lose the tightly contested fixture.
Player Performances and Team Outlook
Several French players featured prominently in Zidane’s line-up, with Jérémy Jacquet, Lucas Da Cunha, and Désiré Doué retaining their starting spots alongside regulars like Upamecano, Adrien Rabiot, and Ousmane Dembélé. Liverpool’s Jacquet impressed in France’s defence, demonstrating an ability to clear danger and deliver line-breaking passes. Como’s Da Cunha was influential in midfield, dictating play and finding key passes, though he was involved in the build-up to Italy’s equaliser.
Michael Olise, the Bayern Munich winger, emerged as a charismatic attacking leader in the absence of Kylian Mbappé. His stunning free-kick was his third goal in the Zidane era, highlighting his proactive and electric performance. In contrast, Ousmane Dembélé, playing upfront, struggled to make an impact and was described as wasteful, underscoring France’s ongoing challenge to fill the void left by Mbappé.