Sport

France and Italy draw 1-1 in UEFA Nations League

In a frustrating evening at Stade de France, Zidane's France failed to overcome Italy, ending in a 1-1 draw.

5 October 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: France and Italy draw 1-1 in UEFA Nations League — Archive photoPhoto: Bryan Berlin · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

On October 6, 2023, the French national football team faced Italy in the third match of the UEFA Nations League at Stade de France. The Azzurri halted Zinedine Zidane's team, which was seeking a third consecutive victory after wins over Turkey and Belgium.

The match opened with France taking the lead in the 55th minute thanks to a free-kick goal from Michael Olise, who delivered a remarkable performance. However, Italy responded swiftly, equalizing in the 68th minute with a goal from Alessandro Bastoni.

Despite dominating play, France could not maintain its advantage. Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma intervened on several crucial occasions, particularly towards the end of the match. Additionally, France had to play with ten men after Upamecano's red card.

The match served as an important test for Zidane's new era as coach of the national team. Despite the disappointing result, Zidane expressed confidence in the group and emphasized the need for continued improvement.

This match marks the first draw for France under Zidane's leadership, who had started with clear victories. The Bleus still hold the top position in the group in the competition, although the inertia of the match against Italy may have represented a setback in their ambitions to prevail in the group.

The French coach had the opportunity to reflect on his team's performance and future challenges, particularly regarding possibilities for rotation in the upcoming match against Belgium. The competition continues with a close eye on the developments of the team and the preparation of the Azzurri.

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