France triumphed 3-1 over Italy in their Nations League clash at the San Siro in Milan on Monday, despite the notable absence of star forward Kylian Mbappé.
The victory saw Adrien Rabiot score twice, while an own goal from Italy’s goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario compounded the hosts’ struggles.
Rabiot opened the scoring early in the second minute with a well-taken strike, setting the tone for the match.
Italy, despite controlling possession in parts, found themselves 2-0 down in the 33rd minute, after an unfortunate own goal from Vicario.
Italy’s defense faltered when Rabiot’s cross was inadvertently turned into the net by the goalkeeper, handing France a comfortable lead.
However, Italy responded just two minutes later. Andrea Cambiaso pulled one back for the hosts in the 35th minute, setting up an intriguing second half. But France’s resilience paid off, with Rabiot securing his second goal of the match in the 65th minute.
The midfielder latched onto a pass from Antoine Griezmann and finished calmly, restoring France’s two-goal cushion and ultimately sealing the win.
Despite the victory, the absence of Mbappé remained a significant talking point. The French forward, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, was once again left out of the squad for this international break, reportedly refusing the call-up.
French sports outlet L’Equipe reported that Mbappé prefers to remain in Spain and is not interested in rejoining the national team as long as Didier Deschamps is in charge.
The pair have reportedly had a falling-out, adding to the growing tension surrounding Mbappé’s international future.
Deschamps, speaking to TF1, acknowledged that Mbappé is currently in a “complicated situation.” He praised the player’s past contributions but hinted at the psychological challenges that can come with the pressure of constant expectations at the highest level.
“He is in a complicated situation, yes, but that does not take away from what he has done or mean that he is not able to re-find his previous form,” said Deschamps.
“It is the head that commands the legs,” he added, referring to the mental challenges players face when dealing with high demands and media scrutiny.
The absence of the world-class forward was felt by Italy’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who expressed surprise at Mbappé’s omission from the squad.
“Yes, I don’t know about the choices that are made in other squads. I don’t know what happened, it’s certainly an important absence,” said Donnarumma before the match.
“I know Kylian, he is one of the strongest in the world and if he was here, he could have troubled us a lot, but there will be other players.”
While Mbappé’s exclusion looms large, France managed to secure an important victory as they continue their Nations League campaign.
The win ensures they stay on track for a top finish in the competition, but it remains to be seen whether Mbappé will be reintegrated into the squad under Deschamps, or if tensions between the two will persist.
