As France prepares to face Italy in the Ligue des Nations at San Siro, coach Zinedine Zidane finds himself navigating a complex emotional landscape shaped by the cultural ties between his career, his family, and Northern Italy, while simultaneously managing a critical injury crisis within his national team squad. [1]

As the story develops

Update

France Suffer First Defeat Under Zidane as Italy Triumph 3-1 in San Siro

France suffered their first defeat under manager Zinedine Zidane with a 3-1 loss to Italy in the Ligue des Nations at San Siro. The result allows the Italian national team, managed by Roberto Mancini, to overtake France in Group 1 standings based on goal average, despite both teams having earned the same number of points after five matchdays. The unexpected setback can be partly attributed to the absence of two key strikers from the 2026 World Cup era: Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé. Mbappé was ruled out due to physical discomfort prior to the match, leading to the call-up of Senny Mayulu. France now faces a critical qualifier against Turkey on Sunday, November 15, at 20:45 CET in Bordeaux, where they must secure progression to the quarter-finals. [2]

Goalkeeper Mike Maignan received a low rating of 4/10 from *20 Minutes*, citing his lack of decisive interventions at San Siro, a stadium where he has thrived with AC Milan for five years. He failed to prevent Pio Esposito’s close-range header for the equalizer at 26 minutes and offered little reassurance during a subsequent aerial challenge. His reputation for saving penalties may have influenced Sebastiano Esposito to shoot wide in the 60th minute. Defender Malo Gusto was heavily criticized, earning a 1/10 rating. He was directly involved in nearly all three Italian goals. At 26 minutes, he was deceived by Nicolò Cambiaghi for the opening equalizer. He later conceded a penalty through naivety at 58 minutes by fouling Cambiaghi, which Sebastiano Esposito missed. In the 63rd minute, the right side targeted throughout the match by Mancini’s tactics was pierced by Nicolò Fazzi’s assist for Frattesi’s goal. He remained on the field until the 77th minute despite the severity of his performance. [2]

Jérémy Jacquet impressed with a 5/10 rating, confirming his promising start at Liverpool by handling the pressure in the absence of regular starter William Saliba. He was solid in pushing back dangerous balls and effectively marked Italian striker Pio Esposito. Dayot Upamecano struggled significantly with a 3/10 rating. He conceded the penalty that made it 3-1 in the 74th minute through poor control of Vergara, echoing the penalty concession in the earlier leg. His defensive struggles against Inter striker Pio Esposito continued from previous failures. [2]

Adrien Truffert received a 3/10, criticized for being too limited offensively. He was involved in the third Italian goal through a risky pass to Lucas Da Cunha in a high-risk area. He was substituted by Andy Diouf in the final quarter of the game. [2]

Lucas Da Cunha was highlighted as the standout performer with a 7/10 rating, looking like a permanent fixture under Zidane. He provided technical brilliance with a half-volley threat in the 10th minute, linked effectively with Cherki and Olise for a major chance for Bradley Barcola that hit the post at 35 minutes. He also provided crucial high interceptions and set up Rabiot at 57 minutes. Although present for the third goal, primary blame lies with the defenders. Rayan Cherki received a 5/10 rating. He showed promise with powerful shots, including one saved by Donnarumma in the 52nd minute, but was criticized for being too individualistic in the final third, particularly getting stuck in the defense at 51 minutes. He was replaced by Eduardo Camavinga late in the game. [2]

Adrien Rabiot, wearing the captain’s armband for the first time, received a 6/10. He showed personality by cutting off Calafiori’s raid and attempted to drive into the Italian box, though he missed a close-range header earlier in the match. His performance suggests he remains valuable to Zidane's project despite his age. [2]

Michael Olise, rated 6/10, was the offensive spark for France. He opened the scoring in the 10th minute following a mistake by Donnarumma. He later launched an attack for Barcola to hit the post. Despite a second-half dip in consistency and losing possession, he created rare late chances with a free-kick and a volley. [2]

Bradley Barcola, deployed centrally in an unusual role, received a 5/10. He showed technical versatility and attempted a curled shot from the center that hit the post at 35 minutes. With Mbappé and Dembélé absent, he proved to be a credible alternative alongside replacements Kroupi and Mayulu. Désiré Doué started strongly with a dangerous early attempt but faded significantly in the second half, committing technical errors. He was substituted after sustaining a blow to the mouth, being replaced by debutant Senny Mayulu. Doué described the night as 'terrible', signaling a need for strong reaction in the upcoming Bordeaux match. [2]

Update

Zidane Faces Mixed Italian Sentiment and Squad Crisis Ahead of France–Italy Clash

France suffered a heavy 3-1 defeat against Italy in the Ligue des Nations at the San Siro, marking the first loss under manager Zinedine Zidane. While head coach Zinedine Zidane attempted to downplay the significance of the result, stating there was “nothing worrying” in the team’s performance and attributing the setback to a simple lack of success, the reality on the pitch suggested deeper structural issues. The French side controlled 65% of possession and completed twice as many successful passes as the Italians, yet failed to convert this dominance into a victory. [3]

The turning point came in the second half, where France’s defensive frailties were exposed. Defender Malo Gusto received widespread criticism, with *20 Minutes* awarding him a 1/10 rating for his involvement in nearly all three Italian goals. He was deceived for the equalizer and later conceded a penalty through naivety. Goalkeeper Mike Maignan also struggled, earning a 4/10 for failing to prevent Pio Esposito’s header and offering little reassurance in aerial duels. Meanwhile, Dayot Upamecano drew further criticism for conceding a penalty in the 74th minute, echoing previous defensive lapses. [3]

Despite the loss, certain players stood out. Lucas Da Cunha was highlighted as the standout performer with a 7/10 rating, providing technical brilliance and crucial interceptions. Michael Olise, rated 6/10, was the offensive spark, opening the scoring in the 10th minute following a mistake by Gianluigi Donnarumma. Adrien Rabiot, making his first appearance as captain, received a 6/10 for his personality and leadership on the pitch. [3]

Following the defeat, France now faces a critical qualifier against Turkey on Sunday, November 15, at 20:45 CET in Bordeaux. They must secure a win to progress to the quarter-finals of the Ligue des Nations. Italy, managed by Roberto Mancini, has overtaken France in Group 1 standings based on goal difference, though both teams have earned the same number of points after five matchdays. [3]

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Sources

  1. 20 Minutes En Italie, « un étrange mélange de sentiments » subsiste à l’égard de Zinédine Zidane 20 ans après la finale de 2006
  2. 20 Minutes EN IMAGES Italie - France : Le calvaire de Gusto, la vista de Da Cunha et d’Olise… Les notes des Bleus après ce couac
  3. 20 Minutes Italie - France : N’y a-t-il vraiment « rien d’inquiétant » dans la première déroute des Bleus de Zidane ?