Italy come from behind to beat France 3-1 and top Nations League group

Italy's national football team beat France 3-1 at San Siro in Milan on Thursday in the UEFA Nations League, the European national team tournament, and moved to the top of Group A1. Italy and France are both on 10 points, but the Italians rank higher on head-to-head record.

France went ahead in the 10th minute when Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma passed the ball straight to Michael Olise, who skipped past a defender and scored. It was his fifth goal in five Nations League games, a tally bettered only by England captain Harry Kane, who has seven.

How the match unfolded

Italy levelled in the 26th minute. Nicolo Cambiaghi reached the byline and cut the ball back, and Francesco Pio Esposito finished. His brother Sebastiano Esposito soon forced Mike Maignan into a sharp save. Before the break, Bradley Barcola struck the foot of the far post.

In the second half Sebastiano Esposito missed a penalty, awarded after Malo Gusto tripped Cambiaghi, hammering it wide on the hour mark. Three minutes later Davide Frattesi, who had come on as a substitute, scored from a Federico Dimarco cross. Italy then won another penalty when Dayot Upamecano tripped substitute Antonio Vergara, and this time Francesco Pio Esposito converted.

France were without injured Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele. It was the first defeat for Zinedine Zidane as France's head coach.

What comes next

Belgium are third on nine points. In Sunday's final group round Belgium host Italy, while Turkiye travel to France. Italy, coached by Roberto Mancini, have extended their unbeaten run to four matches and recorded their first home win over France since 1962.

Elsewhere, England captain Harry Kane scored a winning penalty in his record 126th appearance as England beat Croatia 2-1 at Wembley, securing a place in the Nations League quarter-finals.