France v Italy preview: Zidane faces his old rivals with top spot on the line
Unbeaten France host Italy at the Stade de France with Group A leadership at stake. Team news, form, head-to-head and kick-off time.
Zinedine Zidane takes his unbeaten France side into a heavyweight Nations League meeting with Italy on Friday night, with top spot in League A Group A on the line.
Main image: DSN graphic. Photo: Anton Zaitsev / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
France lead the group with six points from two away games. Italy, back under Roberto Mancini, sit three points behind after a mixed start, so a win in Saint-Denis would pull them level.
Zidane’s perfect start
Zidane, who replaced Didier Deschamps in the summer, has won both of his competitive games 1-0, in Türkiye and then in Belgium. Michael Olise struck late in Brussels to settle the second, and France have yet to concede.
This one carries extra weight for the new coach. Zidane spent five seasons at Juventus and played in the 2006 World Cup final against Italy, his last game as a player. He has said he expects an emotional night.
Team news
France are without Kylian Mbappé, who has a knee injury, and Warren Zaïre-Emery, who has a thigh problem, Al Jazeera reports. Matteo Guendouzi is suspended. Olise, who has eight goals and four assists for Bayern Munich this season, leads the attack, and 21-year-old Désiré Doué is in form after his display against Belgium.
Italy are reported to have a fully fit squad. Francesco Pio Esposito has five goals in ten appearances this season, and Davide Frattesi has been scoring from midfield.
Italy’s reaction
Mancini’s side lost 2-0 at home to Belgium in their opener but answered with a 4-1 win in Bursa against Türkiye. Mancini has framed the trip to Paris as a useful test for a side still being rebuilt.
The recent history is even. Italy won 3-1 in Paris in September 2024, and France returned the favour with a 3-1 win in Milan that November. Over the long run Italy still lead the rivalry clearly.
| Match facts | |
|---|---|
| Kick-off | Friday 2 October, 7.45pm (UK) |
| Venue | Stade de France, Saint-Denis |
| Referee | Jesús Gil Manzano (Spain) |
| Group A position | France 1st, 6 pts | Italy 3rd, 3 pts |
| Group results | France: 1-0 v Türkiye (a), 1-0 v Belgium (a) | Italy: 0-2 v Belgium (h), 4-1 v Türkiye (a) |
| Goals so far | France 2 for, 0 against | Italy 4 for, 3 against |
| Last meeting | Italy 1-3 France, November 2024 |
| All-time record | France 12 wins, Italy 20, draws 9 |
More on DSN: Mbappé leaves France camp with knee tendon injury after scoring in Zidane’s first game, Belgium v Türkiye preview: Van Bommel’s side seek response as Montella chases first points and Hojlund does Ronaldo celebration and brushes past Jesus as Portugal win 4-2 in Denmark.
Our sister site DGBN has also covered Bradley Barcola’s move from PSG to Liverpool.
What’s at stake
Belgium host Türkiye at the same time, so the top of the group could look very different by Friday night. France then host Belgium on Monday. Win here and Zidane’s side will be well placed for a semi-final spot.
