It was yet another pulsating night of football between the two giants of Europe - France and Italy - as the latter won the UEFA Nations League tie with a 3-1 scoreline. Bradley Barcola, who scored his first international goal for France, did it in some memorable fashion albeit of it coming in a losing cause. The forward took just 13 seconds to break the deadlock after kick-off, registering France's fastest goal. On the other hand it was the fastest goal Italy conceded in their history. The previous record of fastest goal conceded by Italy was 23 seconds, which was against Albania at Euro 2024.
Barcola left Italy stunned after he caught Giovanni Di Lorenzo napping as he snatched a pass towards the Italian and curled his shot past Gianluigi Donnarumma. This was the only goal France managed in a night when a total of four goals were scored.
Italy, however, square things at the half hour mark with Federico Dimarco finishing an immaculate back-heel assist from teammate Sandro Tonali. Both the sides then went into the halftime interval with a 1-1 scoreline.
Soon after the interval, France found themselves trailing as Davide Frattesi gave Italy an one-goal cushion. Giacomo Raspadori then doubled the advantage for Italy in the 74th minute sending Parc des Prince into complete silence.
Both teams headed into the match searching for redemption after a modest outing at Euro 2024. However, it was Italy who earned the much-needed victory.
It was a terrible start for the visitors with Di Lorenzo taking far too long over a back-pass and Barcola pounced to score his first international goal. A frantic start to the game gave Italy the chance to level five minutes later but Frattesi hammered a close range header off the crossbar.
Donnarumma pulled off saves from Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise, making his debut, before Italy found the equaliser, with Tonali's assist just as impressive as the strike which found the net.
Tonali, back in the side after serving a 10-month ban for breaching betting rules, played a beautiful one-two with Dimarco who continued his run into the box and struck a sweet left-footed volley beyond the reach of Maignan.
"Magnificent game. We were afraid that he (Tonali) wouldn't make it to play 90 minutes, but in the end he gave two good bursts. We found a very strong player again," Italy manager Luciano Spalletti told RAI.
Italy came out of the blocks quickest in the second half and Retegui's perfect ball across the goal found Frattesi sliding in and his shot beat Maignan at his near post and minutes later Maignan got down to save Frattesi's header from a corner kick.
They found the all-important third goal with two second half substitutes combining. Destiny Udogie passed to Raspadori running into the box and he went round William Saliba to fire past the oncoming Maignan.
France piled on the pressure looking for a way back but Italy held firm to take all three points.
In Thursday's other group game, Belgium beat Israel 3-1, and in the next round of games on Monday France will host Belgium, with Italy away to Israel in Budapest.
- With Reuters inputs
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