In a dramatic UEFA Nations League encounter at the Parc des Princes on Friday, September 6, Italy staged a remarkable comeback to defeat France 3-1, despite conceding a goal just 13 seconds into the match.
The victory, achieved through goals from Federico Dimarco, Davide Frattesi, and Giacomo Raspadori, marks a strong start for Luciano Spalletti’s squad in this year’s competition.
The match began in shocking fashion for the Italian team as France’s Bradley Barcola scored the fastest-ever goal by a French player, catching Italy off guard and giving the hosts an early lead.
However, Italy, demonstrating resilience and composure, soon turned the game on its head. Dimarco leveled the score before Frattesi and Raspadori sealed the victory with their strikes, showing Italy’s attacking prowess and ability to recover from adversity.
Italy’s performance is a significant boost following their disappointing Euro 2024 campaign, where they were eliminated in the last 16 by Switzerland.
Spalletti praised his team’s reaction to the early goal, stating, “Conceding a goal after 13 seconds could have driven us crazy, but we were very good in the way we reacted. We kept our focus and did some great things beyond the goals. We were giants tonight.”
This win places Italy at the top of Group A2 alongside Belgium, who also secured a 3-1 victory against Israel in Friday’s other match.
Italy’s next challenge will be against Israel on Monday, with the game set to take place in Budapest due to the ongoing security concerns in the Middle East.
France, on the other hand, will look to regroup ahead of their next fixture against Belgium in Lyon. The defeat was particularly frustrating for French captain Kylian Mbappé, who struggled to make a significant impact during the game.
Coach Didier Deschamps reflected on the result, acknowledging the team’s shortcomings: “It hurts for all of us. Congratulations to Italy. We were lacking, but we are not going to dwell too much on this.”
The French side’s struggle mirrors their performance in Euro 2024, where they reached the semi-finals but were ultimately defeated by Spain, the eventual champions.
Despite the early setback, Deschamps is focused on moving forward and improving the team’s performance in upcoming matches.
As the Nations League progresses, both Italy and France will be keen to refine their strategies and performances, with Italy’s triumph over France serving as a morale booster and a testament to their resilience and tactical adaptability.
