France Collapses Without Mbappe: "Head in Hands, Coach Zidane"... Italy Secures First Home Win Over France in 64 Years: "Esposito Scores Two"

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The Italian national football team defeated France at home for the first time in a whopping 64 years.

Italy, led by coach Roberto Mancini, secured a 3-1 comeback victory over France in the fifth match of Group A1 in League A of the 2026-2027 UEFA Nations League, held at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium in Milan, Italy, on the 13th (Korean time). It is the first time Italy has beaten France at home since a friendly match in 1962.

Italy, which had lost face by failing to qualify for the World Cup finals for three consecutive tournaments, fired the starting shot of its revival after coach Mancini's return. Meanwhile, French head coach Zinedine Zidane suffered his first bitter defeat, ending an unbeaten streak of four matches (three wins and one draw) that he had maintained since taking office in September.

France, which was without ace Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid) due to a hamstring injury, still managed to score the opening goal. In the 10th minute of the first half, Michael Olise scored after intercepting a buildup error by Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Italy, which launched a counterattack, equalized in the 26th minute of the first half when 21-year-old rising star Francesco Pio Esposito pushed in a cutback from Nicolò Cambiaghi.

Italy's relentless attack in the second half decided the outcome. In the 15th minute of the second half, Sebastiano Esposito missed a penalty kick won by Cambiaghi, but the go-ahead goal came three minutes later. Davide Frattesi converted Federico Dimarco's cross from the left into a shot without hesitation to turn the game around. Then, in the 30th minute of the second half, younger brother Pio Esposito calmly converted a penalty kick won by Antonio Vergara, completing his brace and sealing the 3-1 victory.

With 10 points (three wins, one draw, one loss) secured, Italy tied France (10 points) on points but climbed to first place in the group due to its superior head-to-head record against the French side (one win, one draw).

Italy will play away against Belgium on the 16th, while France, which has slipped to second place in the group, will face Turkey at home in a final match that determines qualification for the round of 16.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original