Bastoni Earns Italy Nations League Draw Against France in Paris
Italy held France to a 1-1 UEFA Nations League draw at the Stade de France, with Alessandro Bastoni cancelling out Michael Olise’s outstanding free-kick as Roberto Mancini hailed another step in the Azzurri’s progress.
Match facts
| Item | Detail | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Result | France 1-1 Italy | UEFA Nations League |
| Goals | Michael Olise, Alessandro Bastoni | Olise struck first from a free-kick; Bastoni levelled |
| Next fixture | Italy v Turkey, Monday | Bologna |
Mancini made just two alterations to the team that beat Turkey in Bursa, retaining confidence in a youthful group after their recent displays. Italy spent long periods without the ball but stayed organised, played out under intense pressure and restricted France to limited clear openings.
The visitors created the better opportunities before half-time, while Gianluigi Donnarumma produced important saves during a difficult second period. Italy then pressed high and forced the mistake that allowed Bastoni to bring them level.
Mancini said his players had followed the game plan precisely, praising their collective work at both ends of the pitch. He was particularly pleased that Italy kept trying to build attacks against a France side packed with elite players, despite conceding possession and territory.
“The players got everything right,” Mancini said. “They worked together in defence and in attack, and it was a very encouraging night. I wanted to see further progress. It was not easy to play against a team with so many champions, but we gave away very little even though they had more of the ball.”
The Italy coach remains committed to an aggressive approach and believes consistency will take time. France, referred to as Zinedine Zidane’s side, posed a major test, but Mancini believes the performance underlined his squad’s willingness to continue developing.
“It will need some time, but our attitude must not change,” he added. “France were a very demanding opponent and we want to keep moving forward.”
Italy are now in a strong position in Group A ahead of Monday’s return meeting with Turkey in Bologna. Mancini will assess the condition of his players after a demanding run of three matches in seven days, while France stay in Paris for their second home game of the international window.
