Adrien Rabiot scored twice as France defeated Italy 3-1 at the San Siro on Sunday, moving to the top of their Nations League group.
The former Juventus midfielder marked his 50th international appearance with a brace, both goals coming from set-pieces delivered by Lucas Digne. The first came in the 33rd minute, with Digne’s brilliant free-kick bouncing off the woodwork and into the net off Italy goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. The second came in the 65th minute, with Rabiot heading in another Digne delivery to seal the victory.
France’s win, which also saw them leapfrog Italy into first place in Group A2 on goal difference, came despite Italy’s Andrea Cambiaso equalising with a fine finish just minutes after Digne’s strike. Both teams were already assured of a spot in the Nations League quarterfinals before the match kicked off.
France had to win by at least two goals to overtake Italy, and Rabiot’s header ensured they did just that. It was a much-needed morale booster for a French team that had been through a challenging international break, which included a goalless draw with Israel on Thursday and the absence of captain Kylian Mbappe.
While the French side looked solid, Italy struggled, particularly with set-piece defending. The Azzurri conceded their sixth goal from a set-piece in their last six matches, a weakness that has been uncharacteristic of their traditionally sturdy defence.
Despite some promising play, including Cambiaso’s well-executed finish and a late effort from substitute Moise Kean that was saved by France’s Mike Maignan, Italy were unable to keep pace.
Italy’s goalkeeper Vicario, starting in place of the ill Gianluigi Donnarumma, struggled with both of France’s goals, further compounding Italy’s woes.
Although Italy still managed to finish the group stage with a respectable 13 points, they will need to address their set-piece vulnerabilities and improve their consistency ahead of the quarter-finals.
For France, the win was a positive response to a turbulent week, highlighting the team’s resilience and ability to bounce back when needed.
