LdN: France wins and steals first place from Italy thanks to the Digne-Rabiot duo

This Sunday evening, the France team had its last meeting in the Nations League. Already qualified for the quarter-finals, the Blues met a team also qualified in Italy. Winner of the first meeting between the two teams in September at the Parc des Princes (1-3), the Squadra Azzurra had to consolidate its first place against the vengeful French. The latter also presented themselves in a fairly unique 4-4-2 diamond with Christopher Nkunku supporting an attacking duo composed of Randal Kolo Muani and Marcus Thuram. To take first place from their evening hosts, Adrien Rabiot’s teammates had to win by two goals. To get this mission off to a good start, the OM midfielder was the first to sound the charge. On a corner perfectly taken by Lucas Digne, Adrien Rabiot found himself at the near post and deceived Guglielmo Vicario, in the Italian goals in the absence of Gianluigi Donnarumma, with a beautiful header (0-1, 2nd). Launched, the Blues were able to be more serene in the construction of their actions and showed interesting things on the field. And despite a nice double save from Mike Maignan against Nicolo Barella (9th), the Blues were generally solid at San Siro despite restrictive Italian pressing. To make their good first period a reality, the French took the break with a superb inspiration from Lucas Digne. On a free kick from 30 meters, the left defender sent a missile which hit the bar then Vicario’s back before entering the Transalpine cage (0-2, 33rd). A short-lived two-goal advantage: on the following action, Andrea Cambiaso reduced the gap after a great Italian action (1-2, 34th). Despite this slight hiccup, Didier Deschamps’ flock entered the locker room with a deserved score on the scoreboard.

Upon returning from the locker room, France had a double objective in mind. Initially, France wanted to maintain its lead in the score. At the same time, the prospect of stealing first place in the group under the noses of their evening opponents represented something enticing for the Blues. In this sense, the French sought to project themselves even more towards the attack. Discreet so far despite a decent performance, Christopher Nkunku lit the first fuse of the second half but his attempt was too presumptuous (58th). Exciting, the men in white continued to project themselves and their stubbornness paid off with another set piece. And why change a winning combination? On a new offering from Lucas Digne, Adrien Rabiot armed a cross header which went to lodge in the opposite corner of Vicario (1-3, 66th). With this third goal from a set piece in the same match, Didier Deschamps’ men equaled their record in the matter which dates back to a 1991 meeting against Albania. Once again in first place in the group, France continued to display appreciable control which did not give in despite the conquering state of mind of the Italians, eager to regain first place in the group. A lead in the score and a first place in the ranking that the French did not let go of, like Mike Maignan’s miraculous rescue at the very end of the match (90+4th). With this great success on the other side of the Alps, France achieved the perfect move and will therefore be seeded in the quarter-finals of the Nations League which will take place next March. Thus, the Blues will avoid Germany, Portugal or even Spain during this stage of the competition.