Italy defeats France 3-1 in UEFA Nations League match at San Siro

Italy defeated France 3-1 in a 2026/2027 UEFA Nations League match at San Siro in Milan on Thursday, November 12, 2026. Francesco Pio Esposito scored two goals to lead Italy to victory against the French side. The match took place in front of a crowd in Milan as both teams competed in the group stage of the tournament.

Match details and scoring sequence

The match began with an early advantage for France when Michael Olise scored the opening goal in the 10th minute. Italy responded through Francesco Pio Esposito, who scored the first equalizer in the 26th minute. The game remained competitive until the second half, when Italy expanded their lead. Davide Frattesi scored for Italy in the 63rd minute, three minutes after Sebastiano Esposito missed a penalty attempt.

Italy further extended their lead in the 75th minute when Francesco Pio Esposito converted a penalty goal. This second goal from Francesco Pio Esposito secured the 3-1 result for the Italian team. Despite the loss, France maintained significant control over the ball, recording 60% possession throughout the match. The French side also registered 18 total shooting attempts during the encounter.

France performance and coaching reaction

France entered the match without Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé due to medical reasons or absence. The French squad struggled with defensive issues during the second half despite their high possession levels. France head coach Zinedine Zidane stated that the defeat is part of the process and learning. Zinedine Zidane noted that the team faced defensive difficulties in the second half despite having good possession. The coach added that the team did not lack courage and remained in the game despite the result.

The match was officiated by Istvan Kovacs from Romania. Following this result, France fell to second place in Group A1 based on head-to-head records. The outcome places significant pressure on the French team as they approach their final group fixture.

Tournament standings and upcoming fixtures

France will host Turkey on Sunday, November 15, 2026, in Bordeaux. A draw in that match would secure qualification for the quarter-finals for the French team. The upcoming match in Bordeaux serves as the final group stage fixture for the French side in this tournament cycle.

Italy will travel to play Belgium in their next scheduled match following the victory at San Siro. The win provides momentum for the Italian team as they continue their campaign in the 2026/2027 UEFA Nations League. The results in Group A1 will determine the final seeding for the knockout stages of the competition.

Glossary

• group stage — The group stage is a part of the tournament. Teams compete in this stage to determine their ranking.
• seeding — Seeding is a method used to determine the rankings for the knockout stages of a competition. The final seeding is determined by the results of the group stage.
• San Siro — San Siro is a sports venue located in the Milanese district of San Siro. It was built to host football matches.
• Group A1 — Group A1 is a group stage division within a tournament. The results in this group determine the final seeding for the knockout stages.