Result Italy 3 – 1 France, Thursday, 12 November 2026, UEFA Nations League Group A Matchday 5
35% Ball Possession ITALY and 65% Ball Possession FRANCE
Italy 3 – 1 France 
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🏆👉 Italy defeated France 3–1 at San Siro Stadium on Thursday, 12 November 2026, in their UEFA Nations League Matchday 5 clash. The victory moved Italy above France into first place in Group 1 on the head-to-head/goal-difference tiebreakers. Both teams have 10 points.
The result was especially significant: it was Italy’s first home win over France since 1962 and handed Zinédine Zidane his first defeat as France head coach. Italy achieved their goal of winning the match as they pursue direct qualification.
Goals: Michael Olise gave France an early lead (10′), before Francesco Pio Esposito equalized (26′). Davide Frattesi put Italy ahead (63′), and Francesco Pio Esposito sealed the win with a penalty (75′).
Standings after the match: Italy overtook France to take first place in Group 1, thanks to the head-to-head and goal-difference tiebreakers. (Both have 10 points each). Goal difference Italy +5, France +3
France started brightly and opened the scoring in the 10th minute after a costly error by Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma gifted possession to Michael Olise. Olise calmly rounded the defense to make it 1–0.
Italy hit back in the 26th minute, when forward Francesco Pio Esposito poked home an equalizer from Nicolò Cambiaghi’s assist.
The drama continued in the 60th minute, when Italy were awarded a penalty after Cambiaghi was tripped. However, Sebastiano Esposito blasted his spot-kick wide. Italy had little time to dwell on the miss: substitute Federico Dimarco soon set up Davide Frattesi, who fired home in the 63rd minute to make it 2–1.
Francesco Pio Esposito sealed the win by converting a late penalty in the 75th minute. The spot-kick was awarded after Dayot Upamecano fouled Antonio Vergara, completing Italy’s 3–1 victory.
Next fixtures, Matchday 6 (Sunday, November 15): Italy travel to face Belgium, while France host Türkiye.
Previous meeting: The teams drew 1–1 in Saint-Denis in October 2026. Michael Olise opened the scoring for France, and Alessandro Bastoni equalized for Italy.
With this win, Roberto Mancini has recorded three wins, one draw and one defeat since returning as Italy manager. During his previous spell in charge of the Azzurri, it took him seven matches to secure his second win (2W, 3D, 2L) and nine to claim his third (3W, 4D, 2L).
What is the current situation after Matchday 5?
Italy lead Group A1 with 10 points from five matches. France are second, also with 10 points. Belgium are following closely with 9 points and Turkey without points.
French Serie A Players on the National Team:
Mike Maignan – AC Milan – Goalkeeper
Pierre Kalulu – Juventus – Defender
Adrien Rabiot – AC Milan – Midfielder
Lucas Da Cunha – Como – Midfielder
Manu Koné – AS Roma –
Andy Diouf – Inter
#ITAFRA #Azzurri #VivoAzzurro
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👉 🇮🇹 Italy 0 – 1 France 🇫🇷
⚽️ 11th minute: Michael Olise scores. A costly mistake by goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma while playing the ball with his feet sends it straight to Olise. He controls it, drives into the box, gets past Scalvini, and fires a right-footed shot into the bottom-right corner.
👉 🇮🇹 Italy 1–1 France 🇫🇷
⚽️ In the 26th minute, Francesco Pio Esposito brought Italy level with a right-footed shot from the left side of the six-yard box. He beat French goalkeeper Mike Maignan with a finish into the centre of the goal. Nicolò Cambiaghi provided the assist. #ITAFRA #NationsLeague
👉 🇮🇹 Italy 1–1 France 🇫🇷
In the 60th minute, Sebastiano Esposito somehow failed to convert the penalty. His right-footed shot went close but drifted wide of the right post. Malo Gusto (France) conceded the penalty after fouling Nicolò Cambiaghi inside the box.
👉 🇮🇹 Italy 2–1 France 🇫🇷
⚽️ In the 63rd minute, Davide Frattesi scores for @Azzurri_En with a left-footed shot from the centre of the box into the bottom-left corner. Federico Dimarco provided the assist with a cross.
👉 🇮🇹 Italy 3–1 France 🇫🇷
⚽️ In the 75th minute, Francesco Pio Esposito scored from the penalty spot for @Azzurri_En, beating Maignan with a right-footed shot into the bottom-left corner. Dayot Upamecano conceded the penalty after fouling Antonio Vergara.
✅ Stats BEFORE the Game
Italy will face France for the 43rd time in its history (19W, 11D, 12L), having played more matches only against Switzerland (62). Les Bleus have won their last three away games against the Azzurri—one more victory than they managed across their previous 14 away meetings (2W, 2D, 10L). Les Bleus have won their last three away games against Italy, surpassing their record across the previous 14 away matches (2W, 2D, 10L).
Excluding friendlies, the record between Italy and France is perfectly balanced, with five wins apiece and five draws across their 15 competitive meetings.
France are unbeaten in their last nine UEFA Nations League group-stage matches (7W, 2D), but their most recent defeat in the competition came against Italy in September 2024 (1–3).
Kylian Mbappé has scored 12 goals for France in 2026, matching his personal national-team record set in 2022. Only Just Fontaine in 1958 (18) and Michel Platini in 1984 (13) have scored more for Les Bleus in a single calendar year.
The San Siro Stadium is all set for the exciting UEFA Nations League Matchday 5 showdown between Italy and France.
Credit via x.com/Azzurri_En
Italy’s dressing room is all set for their showdown with France…
Sebastiano and Francesco Pio Esposito are ready to defend the Italian team! The Esposito Brothers!!!
Italy’s official starting lineup against France
Come on, let’s sing the Italian anthem at the top of our lungs with genuine pride!
🎵 🎵 Fratelli d’Italia,
L’Italia s’è desta;
Dell’elmo di Scipio
S’è cinta la testa.
Dov’è la Vittoria?
Le porga la chioma;
Ché schiava di Roma
Iddio la creò.
Chorus:
🎵🎵 Stringiamci a coorte!
Siam pronti alla morte.
Siam pronti alla morte,
L’Italia chiamò.
Stringiamci a coorte!
Siam pronti alla morte.
Siam pronti alla morte,
L’Italia chiamò. Sì!
UEFA Nations League
Group A Matchday 5, League A, Group A1
🇮🇹 Italy 3 – 1 France 🇫🇷
Thursday 12 November 2026
San Siro Stadium
Milan, Italy
20:45
Referee: István Kovács (Romania)
Assistant Referee 1: Mihai Marius Marica (Romania)
Assistant Referee 2: Ferencz Tunyogi (Romania)
Fourth Official: Szabolcs Roland Kovacs (Romania)
Video Assistant Referee (VAR): Dennis Johan Higler (Netherlands)
Assistant VAR (AVAR): Cătălin Sorin Popa (Romania)
UEFA Referee Observer: Kóstas Kapitanís (Cyprus)
UEFA Delegate: Charles Schaack (Luxembourg)
⚽️ Goals: 10 Michael Olise (F), 26′ Francesco Pio Esposito equalized (I), 63′ Davide Frattesi (I), and 75′ Francesco Pio Esposito (I).
🟥 Red Card: None
🟨 Yellow Cards:
✅ Official lineups – Tabellino:
👉🇮🇹 Lineup ITALIA (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Kayode, Scalvini, Bastoni, Calafiori; Frattesi, Tonali, Barella; S. Esposito, P. Esposito, Cambiaghi.
Substitutes: Carnesecchi, Vicario, Ricci, Fagioli, Dimarco, Palestra, Doumbia, Romano, Scamacca, Vergara, Ghilardi, Koleosho
Head Coach: Roberto Mancini
👉🇫🇷 Lineup FRANCE (4-3-3): Maignan; Gusto, Jacquet, Upamecano, Truffert; Cherki, Da Cunha, Rabiot; Olise, Doué, Barcola.
Substitutes: Restes, Risser, Kumbedi, Camavinga, Mayulu, Kroupi, Diouf, Konaté, Yoro, Zaire-Emery, Pagis.
Head Coach: ZinedineZidane
Click the video to watch Italy 3 – 1 France highlights on Thursday, 12 November 2026
By Anna Italia
Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo
