Saint-Denis gave Zinedine Zidane another night shaped by Italy. Twenty years after his playing career ended with a red card in the 2006 World Cup final against the Azzurri, France’s coach saw his side held 1-1 at the same ground, with Gianluigi Donnarumma outstanding on his return to Paris.
France remain top of Nations League Group A1 on seven points, but Belgium’s 3-0 win over bottom side Turkey has reduced the margin to a single point. Italy, who arrived under pressure after missing a third consecutive World Cup, are third with four.
Quick facts
- France drew 1-1 with Italy at Saint-Denis in Nations League Group A1.
- Michael Olise scored from a free-kick in the 55th minute.
- Alessandro Bastoni equalised 13 minutes later after winning possession from Lucas Da Cunha.
- Dayot Upamecano was sent off after collecting two yellow cards for fouls on Moise Kean.
- Belgium beat Turkey 3-0 and now sit one point behind group leaders France.
There was a warm welcome for Zidane before kick-off, with one end of the stadium displaying a “Zizou” mosaic and a banner greeting him home. Without Kylian Mbappé, France restored Ousmane Dembélé, Olise and Rayan Cherki to the starting side and controlled the ball early, but struggled to open Italy up.
Italy’s threat came in sharper bursts. In the ninth minute, Michael Kayode drove a low cross towards the far post and Kean should have scored, only for Mike Maignan to block his close-range effort.
Giorgio Scalvini and Bastoni held firm at the heart of an aggressive Italian defensive display. France’s closest first-half moment came when Sandro Tonali diverted an Olise delivery onto the back of his own crossbar.
The visitors had further reason to believe before the interval. Jérémy Jacquet made a vital intervention to deny Davide Frattesi from a corner, while Kayode had the ball in the net soon afterwards only for referee Gil Manzano to rule it out for offside.
Donnarumma then took centre stage. The former Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper first denied Désiré Doué and then reacted rapidly to keep out Dembélé’s follow-up, before pushing another Olise strike away with a full-stretch save.
France eventually broke through in the 55th minute. Cherki rolled a short free-kick into Olise’s path, and the winger bent a fine finish beyond Donnarumma. Zidane celebrated wildly on the touchline, but the advantage did not last.
Italy found greater authority after Nicolò Barella and debutant Antonio Vergara entered the match. The equaliser, though, began with Adrien Rabiot taking a risk in possession: Bastoni dispossessed Da Cunha as he tried to control the ball and fired in from the edge of the box in the 68th minute.
It was the first goal France had conceded under Zidane. Italy grew in confidence, while Donnarumma continued to protect the draw by stopping efforts from Rabiot and substitute Eduardo Camavinga.
France’s task became harder when Upamecano received a second booking for pulling back Kean. Even with 10 men, the home side nearly found a winner through Camavinga, but Donnarumma again made the decisive save to secure a point for an Italy side that absorbed long periods of pressure and left Paris with proof of its resilience.
