UEFA Nations League, League A 3FranceFRA 1 1 Full Time ItalyITA Venue Stade de France Referee Jesus Gil ManzanoMichael Olise 55 Alessandro Bastoni 68France failed to win under Zinedine Zidane for the first time as they were held to a 1-1 UEFA Nations League draw by Italy at the Stade de France. Zidanes men had claimed maximum points from their games with Turkey and Belgium, but were unconvincing for long periods in his maiden home game in charge, which marked their first fixture at the Stade de France since March last year.Still, they appeared on course for all three points after a stunning free-kick from Michael Olise gave Les Bleus the lead 10 minutes into the second half.Italy, however, played with a confidence that has so often been lacking in recent years and, after claiming their first win of Roberto Mancinis second spell in charge in their previous fixture against Turkey, they stunned the Saint-Denis crowd as Alessandro Bastoni equalised with his second goal in as many games.Both sides had chances to take all three points and, with France reduced to 10 men late on after Dayot Upamecano received his second booking, the Azzurri will likely be the more frustrated at failing to do so.France stay top of Group 1 in Nations League A, with Italy three points behind them in third.France frustrated in Zidanes first home gameMoise Kean was guilty of an astonishing miss nine minutes into the contest, the Como forward failing to cap a brilliant Italy move with the goal at his mercy at his far post as he somehow contrived to turn Michael Kayodes low delivery back across goal and into the arms of Mike Maignan.France struggled to trouble Gianluigi Donnarumma for much of the first half, though Italy breathed a sigh of relief when Olises deflected cross looped onto the top of crossbar.Davide Frattesi saw an effort deflected narrowly wide following a long throw as Italy caused France more problems in the closing stages of the first half, with Kean seeing a goal rightly ruled out for offside shortly before the interval.France emerged for the second half with renewed energy and Donnarumma was forced into a stunning double save soon after the restart to deny Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele.The Italy goalkeeper then kept out a curling Olise strike, but there was absolutely nothing Donnarumma could do to keep out a wondrous free-kick from Olise, who left the Manchester City shot-stopper rooted to the spot with a sublime bending strike that rattled in off the crossbar.Italy, though, responded well and were ruthless in punishing a mistake from Como midfielder Lucas da Cunha, whose heavy touch saw him dispossessed by Bastoni.The Inter Milan centre-back then showed superb composure on surprising foray into the box, beating Mike Maignan with a confident finish that the scrambling Jeremy Jacquet could only help into the net.Adrien Rabiot went agonisingly close to restoring Frances lead as he saw a drive turned around the post by Donnarumma, before Kean almost atoned for his earlier miss with a looping header that Maignan was forced to tip over.A long-range strike from Eduardo Camavinga was repelled by the brilliant Donnarumma as France pushed for a winner, but their ambition in doing so was checked somewhat after Upamecano received a second yellow for pulling down Kean.Italy wasted a gilt-edged chance to capitalise on their extra man as substitute Nicolo Barella turned over from close range, and only the stunning reflexes of Donnarumma ensured they were not punished for that profligacy as he superbly clawed away a piledriver from Camavinga.There was controversy late on as Olise went down under the challenge of Bastoni, but Jesus Gil Manzanos decision that the defender got enough on the ball was upheld by VAR as France were left to settle for a point. France Italy 1 Goals 1 65% Possession 35% 18 Total Shots 14 8 Shots on Target 2 4 Shots off Target 6 6 Corners 4 9 Fouls 10 1 Offsides 3 0 Yellow Cards 4 1 Red Cards 0 1 Saves 7 725 Passes 384 669 Passes Completed 323 92% Pass Accuracy 84% Home Away The UEFA Nations League Table UEFA Nations League 2026 World League A Group A #TeamPlayedWonDrawnLostGFGAGDPtsLast 2 1 France22002026 D W 2 Belgium21012113 W L 3 Italy21014313 D W 4 Trkiye200215-40 L L Position 1, 2 : Play Offs: Quarter-finals Position 3 : Relegation Playoffs Position 4 : Relegation Upcoming fixtures for France and Italy Upcoming Fixtures : France UEFA Nations League France FRA 19:45 2026-10-05 Belgium BEL UEFA Nations League Italy ITA 19:45 2026-11-12 France FRA UEFA Nations League France FRA 19:45 2026-11-15 Trkiye TUR Upcoming Fixtures : Italy UEFA Nations League Italy ITA 19:45 2026-10-05 Trkiye TUR UEFA Nations League Italy ITA 19:45 2026-11-12 France FRA UEFA Nations League Belgium BEL 19:45 2026-11-15 Italy ITA Topics France National Football Team Italy National Football Team UEFA Nations League Add us as a preferred source on Google If you enjoy reading this article, you can help support our independent football journalism by adding 101 Great Goals as a preferred source You Should Also Read France v Italy: Confirmed line-ups for Zidanes first home game Nicholas McGee 2nd October, 2026 France v Italy: Preview, expected line-ups, stats and where to watch Jon Fisher 2nd October, 2026 Ronaldo saga will not divide us, Jesus vows after Portugal win over Denmark Nicholas McGee 1st October, 2026 Nations League: Netherlands fight back to draw while Parrott stars for Ireland Tom Rostance 1st October, 2026 Denmark 2-4 Portugal: Jesus men put Ronaldo drama to one side with superb win Nicholas McGee 1st October, 2026 Ramos stars as Portugal put Ronaldo drama behind them against Denmark Nicholas McGee 1st October, 2026
