On Friday, one of the most storied European football rivalries, France and Italy, will resume when they kick off their 2024-25 UEFA Nations League campaign at the Parc des Princes in Paris in what will be their first competitive meeting since 2008 Euros.
With both teams aiming to bounce back after disappointing Euro 2024 exits, France and Italy will come into this encounter eager to start strong in the competitive Group A2 which has Belgium and Israel as the other two nations in that group.
France Aims for Redemption | Home Win = 1.70
France, led by Didier Deschamps, will look to make a statement after their semi-final defeat to Spain at Euro 2024. The French squad, though packed with talent, has faced criticism for their defensive style of play, which many believe held them back in the summer tournament.
Captain Kylian Mbappe, who struggled to hit top form during the Euros, will be expected to lead from the front in this Nations League campaign. The last time France competed in the Nations League, they finished a disappointing third in their group.
With a fresh campaign ahead, Deschamps knows the importance of securing maximum points at home, particularly with tough away fixtures against Italy, Belgium, and Israel to come. Injuries to key players like Wesley Fofana, Ferland Mendy, and Aurelien Tchouameni could affect their line-up, but with depth in the squad, Les Bleus remain firm favourites.
Italy Looking for a Fresh Start | Away Win = 5.29
Italy, under Luciano Spalletti, is coming off a frustrating Euro 2024 campaign where they exited in the Round of 16 after a painful loss to Switzerland. Spalletti has since promised to bring clarity and consistency to his side, though the Azzurri are in the midst of a transition with several key players like Gianluca Scamacca and Nicolo Barella unavailable due to injuries.
Despite these absences, Italy will still rely on experienced players like goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and midfielder Sandro Tonali to guide a younger squad through a challenging Nations League group.
Italy finished top of their group in the last edition of this tournament, but with a revamped format and tougher competition, they’ll need a strong start against France to stay competitive, the good news for the Azzuris is that France themselves is not in their best form at the moment.
Key Players & Team News:
France will likely field a strong line-up despite injury issues, with Mike Maignan expected to start in goal. Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe and Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann are likely to lead the attack, while N’Golo Kante should command the midfield.
Deschamps has also called up young talents like Michael Olise, who impressed in the Olympics, and Manu Kone, who could make his senior debut. For Italy, Donnarumma will guard the goal, with a new-look backline due to injuries to Gianluca Mancini and Alessandro Bastoni.
Striker Mateo Retegui is expected to lead the line in a 3-4-2-1 formation, while Sandro Tonali and Manuel Locatelli should provide stability in midfield. The lack of experienced forwards like Ciro Immobile and Federico Chiesa could limit their attacking threat.
Match Stats & Betting Odds | Draw = 4.12
France has a favourable head-to-head record against Italy, winning seven (7) of their last twelve (12) meetings, including their most recent three (3) encounters. | Specials Market: Home & Over 1.5 = 1.95
Italy, meanwhile, defeated France 0-2 in their last competitive meeting against Les Bleu, in the UEFA Euros in 2008. | Specials Market: Draw/Away & Under 4.5 Goals = 2.24
Both France and Italy have seen under 2.5 goals happen in four (4) of their last five (5) meetings in all competitions. | Main Market: Under 2.5 = 1.90
You can follow and bet on the UEFA Nations League match, France vs Italy, on MSport here.
