Under the lights at the Stade de France, Lucas Da Cunha is set for another major international night as France prepare to face Italy in the Nations League on Friday.
The Ligue 1 news
Da Cunha, the Como midfielder, will retain his place in Zinédine Zidane’s France side for the team’s third Nations League match. He is expected to start alongside Adrien Rabiot and Rayan Cherki in midfield.
France will make several changes from the XI that won 1-0 away to Belgium on Monday. Mike Maignan, Jérémy Jacquet, Da Cunha and Désiré Doué are the four players kept in the starting team.
Zidane is also bringing back several established names. Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise and Rabiot are due to return, with Rabiot selected ahead of Manu Koné.
The defensive line will be reshaped around Jacquet, who keeps his place. Jules Koundé, Dayot Upamecano and Adrien Truffert are all set to come into the back four.
France’s next appointment
France host Italy at the Stade de France on Friday, with kick-off scheduled for 20:45. Zidane is expected to use a 4-3-3 formation, with Cherki, Da Cunha and Rabiot forming the midfield unit as Les Bleus seek another Nations League result after their victory in Belgium.
