Alessandro Bastoni arrives in Paris with Italy carrying both the weight of its history and the uncertainty of a new beginning. The Inter defender does not see the meeting with France as a ceremonial occasion, even if the Azzurri recognise they remain at an earlier stage than a side shaped by the legacy of Zinedine Zidane.
For Bastoni, the immediate task is not to measure Italy against the opponent’s reputation, but to establish what this Italy can become. “We have too important a history to come here simply for a walk,” he said. “There are good qualities in this squad, but we are only beginning a journey. The priority is to find our identity and show what Italy is.”
He spoke of patience as a necessary part of that process. Mistakes will come, he accepted, but the group has confidence and a shared desire to make progress ahead of the match. Italy believe there is room for significant achievements, provided the team is allowed time to grow into its own standards rather than chasing comparisons with others.
The defender’s personal outlook has also been shaped by the disappointment of missing the last World Cup. Bastoni said the sadness and frustration he felt after the Bosnia match were profound, yet he has tried not to let that setback alter his approach on the pitch. The past cannot be changed, he said; the present is where Italy can influence its future.
That same calm has been tested by criticism of his defensive qualities, particularly given the scrutiny that follows a player who has spent years at the centre of Inter’s success. Bastoni made clear that he trusts his own level. “I have not seen poor players at Inter winning so much over the past ten years,” he said, while adding that Italian football must become less eager to turn inward on its own players. In his view, the gap is often smaller once Italian sides and players step onto the international stage.
Paris brings back a painful Inter memory
France will present a more direct challenge than any debate around reputation. Bastoni is likely to face Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué again, two Paris Saint-Germain forwards he encountered in Inter’s 5-0 defeat in the 2025 Champions League final. He described that night as the lowest moment of his career and placed both attackers among the five best players in world football.
“After the last time I played against Dembélé, perhaps I am not the person to ask how to stop him,” Bastoni said. “He is an extraordinary player.” The answer, he suggested, cannot rest on one defender or one system. Italy will need an outstanding display from the entire defensive unit, but also the courage to keep possession rather than merely endure France’s pressure.
For Bastoni, possession may be Italy’s most meaningful form of protection. If the Azzurri can play as a team and avoid fear on the ball, they can give themselves a chance against Dembélé, Doué and a France side that will demand concentration across the pitch.
The occasion also carries a wider responsibility. Bastoni said the national shirt represents Italians around the world, whether the team plays in Paris or elsewhere. Against France, as in every major international fixture, he believes the players feel the obligation and the pride that come with representing the Italian public. Italy may still be constructing its next chapter, but Bastoni’s message is that it will not do so timidly.
