{"id":1499579,"date":"2026-10-02T22:19:54","date_gmt":"2026-10-02T21:19:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?post_type=features&#038;p=1499579"},"modified":"2026-10-02T22:19:59","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T21:19:59","slug":"post-match-analysis-france-vs-italy-02-10-26","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/post-match-analysis-france-vs-italy-02-10-26\/","title":{"rendered":"France vs Italy stats and analysis: Azzurri deny Zinedine Zidane a winning home debut as Les Bleus boss"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/clubs\/france\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">France<\/a>\u2019s UEFA Nations League meeting with Italy was a momentous occasion.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A run-of-the-mill Nations League clash may have meant little in the grand scheme of things. However, the game was Zinedine Zidane\u2019s home debut having succeeded <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/players\/didier-deschamps\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Didier Deschamps<\/a> as Les Bleus boss earlier this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That it came against Italy was a somewhat cruel twist of fate. Zidane\u2019s final game as a player, after all, ended on a sour note against the Azzurri 20 years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><h2>In this article, we&#8217;ll cover:<\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"#h-italy-s-lack-of-elite-attacking-options-a-worry\" data-level=\"3\">Italy\u2019s lack of elite attacking options a worry<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-freed-from-desire\" data-level=\"3\">Freed from Desire<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-da-cunha-catches-the-eye-despite-mistake\" data-level=\"3\">Da Cunha catches the eye despite mistake<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And while it was Zidane\u2019s France that dominated the opening exchanges, it was Italy who came closest to opening the scoring. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/players\/michael-kayode\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Michael Kayode<\/a> picked out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/players\/moise-kean\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Moise Kean<\/a>, who really should have got the better of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/players\/mike-maignan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mike Maignan<\/a> from close range in the ninth minute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It took until the 20th minute for the hosts to forge their first chance. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/players\/michael-olise\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Michael Olise<\/a> cut onto his left, yet fired high and wide from range as France pushed to make their territorial dominance count. Ousmane Dembele saw an effort blocked for a corner, while Olise\u2019s lofted cross from the resulting set piece deflected off <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/players\/sandro-tonali\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sandro Tonali<\/a> and onto the crossbar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dembele wasted a chance to slip in a teammate shortly before the break, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/clubs\/paris-saint-germain\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Paris Saint-Germain<\/a> man testing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/players\/gianluigi-donnarumma\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gianluigi Donnarumma<\/a> from range, as France continued to huff and puff. Zidane\u2019s side still looked shaky at the back, as Kayode\u2019s long throw caused havoc in the box. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/players\/davide-frattesi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Davide Frattesi<\/a> hoped to capitalise on the chaos, though his effort squirmed behind for a corner. Kean then saw a low drive ruled out for offside as this Italy side showed gave the hosts a scare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Donnarumma was forced into a fine double save to deny former PSG teammates Desire Doue and Dembele minutes after the restart as France made a bright start to the second half. The Italy captain then pushed an Olise strike away from goal as Italy held on at the Stade de France.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It took until the 55th minute for France to finally break the Italy resolve. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/players\/rayan-cherki\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rayan Cherki<\/a> won a free-kick 20 yards from the Azzurri goal, and it was the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/clubs\/manchester-city\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Manchester City<\/a> man who teed up Olise. The Bayern man launched an unstoppable effort up and over the wall, and off the crossbar, to leave Donnarumma rooted to the spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Completely against the run of play midway through the second half, and Italy were level. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/players\/lucas-da-cunha\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lucas da Cunha<\/a> was robbed of possession by centre-back <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/players\/alessandro-bastoni\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Alessandro Bastoni<\/a> in the France half. The Inter man then showed all the composure of an elite striker to tuck past Maignan to silence the French capital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">France rapidly pressed to regain the lead, and it took another fine Donnarumma stop to deny <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/players\/adrien-rabiot\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Adrien Rabiot<\/a> to keep the scores level in the 70th minute. And as the clock ticked towards the 90, Donnarumma was again on hand to keep the France offence at bay, palming an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/players\/eduardo-camavinga\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Eduardo Camavinga<\/a> hit away for a corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Centre-back <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/players\/dayot-upamecano\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dayot Upamecano<\/a> received his marching orders for a second yellow with five minutes of normal time to play. Italy, though, failed to make their numerical advantage count, and it was France who had the best chance in the dying embers, Donnarumma again equal to Camavinga\u2019s effort from range, with the spoils shared in a 1-1 draw in Paris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-italy-s-lack-of-elite-attacking-options-a-worry\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Italy\u2019s lack of elite attacking options a worry<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Roberto Mancini lined his Italy side up in a 4-3-3 in France on Friday night, with Moise Kean joining Esposito brothers Francesco Pio and Sebastiano in attack. It\u2019s hardly a trio that instils fear in opposition backlines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Between them, they managed just three shots. Second half subs <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/players\/gianluca-scamacca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gianluca Scamacca<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/players\/antonio-vergara\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Antonio Vergara<\/a> failed to test Mike Maignan in the France goal. Ultimately, it was defender Alessandro Bastoni who broke France down. The Inter star had strolled forward from centre-back before tucking past Maignan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The lack of top-quality attacking options is a concern for Mancini. This is a nation that was once able to call upon Fabrizio Ravanelli, Christian Vieri, Roberto Baggio, Alessandro Del Piero, Francesco Totti and Filippo Inzaghi at one time or another. Now, the current crop are nowhere near the standard required for Italy, and it showed in Paris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-freed-from-desire\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Freed from Desire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Having featured in the 1-0 win over Turkiye from the bench, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/players\/desire-doue\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Desire Doue<\/a> started the subsequent 1-0 victory over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/clubs\/belgium\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Belgium<\/a>. There was a hint of fortune about his selection, however.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kylian Mbappe suffered a knee injury last month that forced him to withdraw from the France squad. Mbappe\u2019s absence benefitted Doue, who has started two of France\u2019s three games during the international break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And the PSG man looked to be enjoying himself in the capital on Friday. While Doue failed to contribute to a goal, it wasn\u2019t for want of trying as he managed three shots and completed four take ons. It follows a superb showing against Belgium, where he managed five completed take ons, five shots and created four chances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-da-cunha-catches-the-eye-despite-mistake\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Da Cunha catches the eye despite mistake<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/players\/lucas-da-cunha\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lucas da Cunha<\/a> was rewarded for his bright start to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/competitions\/serie-a-2026-2027\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Serie A<\/a> season with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/clubs\/como\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Como<\/a> with a first France call up last month. And he made his debut for Les Bleus in the 1-0 win over Belgium last month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 25-year-old kept his place in the side for the Italy clash, and again looked assured in possession for Zidane\u2019s team. Admittedly, he was caught on the ball by Bastoni for the Italy equaliser. Conversely, Adrien Rabiot\u2019s pass put the Como star in danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-sq-branded-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Player<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Chances Created<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Lucas da Cunha<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>4<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Ousmane Dembele<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">3<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Nicolo Fagioli<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">3<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Michael Kayode<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">2<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Rayan Cherki<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">2<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Michael Olise<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">2<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That shouldn\u2019t take away another solid midfield performance from Da Cunha. The midfielder created more chances (4) than any other player. Only Dayot Upamecano (90) attempted more passes than the Como man (85) in the stalemate. He would likely have ranked higher had he not been withdrawn following the former\u2019s late red.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A 96.5% pass accuracy was also the third best of all starters in Paris on Friday. Fans will remember his error for Bastoni\u2019s equaliser. However, Da Cunha put on a display that proved he warrants a spot in the Les Bleus XI for the upcoming meeting with Belgium. He could turn out to be the perfect tempo-setter in Zidane\u2019s France side.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3><strong>Read more:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/\"><strong>Latest football news<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/football-tips\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Football betting tips<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/betting-sites\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Best betting sites<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/betting-sites\/best-free-bet-offers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Best free bet offers<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/football-tips\/accumulator\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Football accumulator tips<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>France\u2019s UEFA Nations League meeting with Italy was a momentous occasion. A run-of-the-mill Nations League clash may have meant little in the grand scheme of things. However, the game was Zinedine Zidane\u2019s home debut having succeeded Didier Deschamps as Les Bleus boss earlier this year. That it came against Italy was a somewhat cruel twist&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3564,"featured_media":1499580,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"France","_yoast_wpseo_title":"","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"France 1-1 Italy: Zinedine Zidane\u2019s home debut ends in a draw as Desire Doue and Lucas da Cunha impress for Les Bleus.","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"features-category":[],"squawka-category":[27675,27678],"class_list":["post-1499579","features","type-features","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","squawka-category-international","squawka-category-match-analysis"],"acf":{"external_featured_image_url":"","hide_featured_image_pattern":false},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.0 (Yoast SEO v28.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>France vs Italy stats and analysis: Azzurri deny Zinedine Zidane a winning home debut as Les Bleus boss | Squawka | 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