Italy’s Dramatic Victory Over France
Italy staged a remarkable comeback to defeat France 3-1 in a UEFA Nations League match held at the Parc des Princes. Despite an early setback with Bradley Barcola scoring for France just 13 seconds into the game, Italy turned the tide with goals from Federico Dimarco, Davide Frattesi, and Giacomo Raspadori.
Erling Haaland’s Quiet Night
Norwegian striker Erling Haaland faced a challenging match as Norway was held to a 0-0 draw against Kazakhstan, ranked 109th in the FIFA World Rankings. Haaland, who has been in stellar form with Manchester City, could not break the deadlock in this encounter. Kazakhstan’s defense proved resilient, keeping the prolific striker at bay.
Italy’s Comeback Story
France’s Barcola made history with the fastest goal ever scored by a French player. However, France failed to capitalize on this early advantage. Italy responded with determination. Federico Dimarco equalized with a spectacular volley after Sandro Tonali’s pass. Davide Frattesi then scored early in the second half, and Giacomo Raspadori sealed the win with Italy’s third goal.
Italy’s coach, Luciano Spalletti, expressed relief and happiness after the match. “Italians love football, and they have been very sad recently,” Spalletti said. “I am happy tonight because we are relieved to see a better performance. Now we can continue on this road because we saw how much potential we have.”
France’s Disappointing Performance
For France, captain Kylian Mbappe struggled to make a significant impact. France’s coach, Didier Deschamps, was candid about the team’s performance. “It hurts for all of us,” admitted Deschamps. France, who had a disappointing showing at Euro 2024, continued to face challenges in this match.
Deschamps gave a full international debut to Michael Olise, but the Bayern Munich right-winger was overshadowed by Barcola’s early goal. Barcola’s strike broke the previous record of the fastest French goal, set by Bernard Lacombe in 1978.
Italy’s Upcoming Matches
With this win, Italy is now level with Belgium at the top of Group A2. Belgium also won their match against Israel 3-1. Kevin De Bruyne scored twice for Belgium, and Youri Tielemans added another goal, with Timothy Castagne scoring an own goal.
Italy’s next game will be against Israel in Budapest, due to security concerns in the Middle East. France will face Belgium in Lyon.
Other UEFA Nations League Results
In other matches, new Wales coach Craig Bellamy saw his team draw 0-0 with Turkey in Cardiff. Despite having Baris Yilmaz sent off in the second half, Turkey secured a point. “I am not a master at this after one game, trust me. But I enjoyed it. It was a great country to play against in your first game, and I am really happy,” Bellamy said.
Wales will travel to Montenegro, who lost 2-0 to Iceland. Meanwhile, Romania, under the guidance of veteran coach Mircea Lucescu, won 3-0 against Kosovo in Group C2.
Conclusion
Italy’s stunning comeback against France and Erling Haaland’s quiet performance against Kazakhstan were key highlights in the latest UEFA Nations League fixtures. Italy’s victory offers a much-needed boost after their Euro 2024 disappointment. As the Nations League progresses, teams will continue to battle for top positions and crucial victories. Stay updated with the latest from IPL365.
