The French national team, led by coach Zinedine Zidane, played to a 1-1 draw with Italy in a UEFA Nations League match on Friday, October 2, 2026, at the Stade de France in Paris. The match was part of the first level of the Nations League, Group A. France had been riding a two-match winning streak under Zidane, having beaten Turkey and Belgium in his first two games in charge.
The first half ended scoreless, despite France dominating possession and creating several scoring chances. Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made several key saves to keep his team level. The Italian team struggled to find their footing in the early going but grew more confident as the half wore on. France's pressure finally paid off in the 55th minute when Michael Olise scored on a pass from Ryan Cherki.
However, Italy equalized in the 68th minute through Alessandro Bastoni, who capitalized on a scoring opportunity to level the match at 1-1. The goal was a significant boost for the Italian team, who had been struggling to create scoring chances. The match became more complicated for France when defender Dayot Upamecano received his second yellow card and was ejected in the 85th minute.
The draw marked the first blemish on Zidane's record as France coach, and it complicated France's chances of advancing in the Nations League. Prior to the match, France had been one of the top teams in the group, with two consecutive wins under Zidane. The draw moved Italy to four points in the group, while France remained atop the standings with seven points.
The result also had implications for the rest of the group, as Belgium moved into second place with six points, while Turkey remained at the bottom of the table with zero points. The upcoming matches in the group will be crucial in determining which teams advance to the next stage of the competition. Italy will look to build on the momentum from the draw, while France will seek to regain their winning form.
Zidane's team had been impressive in their first two matches, and the draw against Italy was a setback, but not a devastating one. France still controls its own destiny in the group and will look to bounce back in their next match. The team's performance will be closely watched, as they seek to make a strong impression under their new coach.
The draw was a significant result for both teams, as they look to achieve their goals in the Nations League. The competition is expected to be fierce, and every point will be crucial in determining the final standings. The match marked an important milestone for both teams, and they will look to build on the momentum from the match in their future games.
Key points
- France's winning streak ends with a 1-1 draw against Italy.
- Italy earns a valuable point in the Nations League.
- The draw complicates France's chances of advancing in the competition.
