France vs. Italy: Player Ratings and Match Analysis

Following victories against Turkey and Belgium, the French national team drew 1-1 with Italy on Friday in the third matchday of the Nations League. This home debut for coach Zinedine Zidane ended with some regrets, despite a spectacular goal from Michael Olise. Here are the player ratings for the French squad.

Mike Maignan: 6

He made a crucial save against Moise Kean in the 9th minute and another notable stop in the 81st. The AC Milan goalkeeper frequently came out effectively to support his defense, similar to the previous match. He was unable to prevent Italy's equalizer.

Pierre Kalulu: 5

Chosen over Jules Koundé on the right flank, he was caught off guard by Kean on Italy's first chance (9th minute) but generally held his position well. However, he offered fewer offensive options late in the game and sometimes struggled.

Jérémy Jacquet: 7

After a strong performance against Belgium, anticipation was high to see him alongside Upamecano. He frequently pushed high to disrupt Italian build-up play. Very solid in duels with decisive interventions (29th minute).

Dayot Upamecano: 6

A red card in the 86th minute overshadowed an otherwise strong game, especially as it seemed avoidable. It was unfortunate because his partnership with Jacquet had been effective until then. Before his expulsion, he showed impressive recovery sequences, earning applause from the Stade de France crowd.

Adrien Truffert: 6

Solid on the left side, he won most of his duels and regularly provided offensive support. A good performance from the Bournemouth player.

Lucas Da Cunha: 5

Starting as the defensive midfielder for the second consecutive match, he initially appeared comfortable and calm on the ball, complemented by some effective long passes. However, he lost possession fatally in the 68th minute. This was a shame, as his performance had been strong up to that point.

Adrien Rabiot: 5

Showed high energy and availability, frequently pushing forward to offer passing options, including a shot on target in the 70th minute. He was also valuable in disrupting some Italian attacks. However, his pass to Da Cunha on Italy's equalizer was not ideal.

Rayan Cherki: 5

After a quiet start, he made a good play in the 27th minute by winning the ball, followed by a skillful outside-of-the-foot pass. He became more involved subsequently, exchanging play frequently with Olise. He also drew the foul that led to France's goal. While sometimes looking to do too much on the ball, he was replaced by Camavinga (77th minute), who also saw his shot saved by a strong Donnarumma.

Michael Olise: 7

The Bayern player demonstrated great energy. He scored a spectacular free-kick to open the scoring (56th minute). Earlier, he had hit the crossbar in the 23rd minute and tested Donnarumma's gloves in the 50th. He truly animated the match with his technique and constant movement. Furthermore, he made efforts to assist Kalulu defensively when needed.

Ousmane Dembélé: 4

Made valuable pressing contributions and remained committed to the team. However, his finishing was off: several shots were blocked or went wide, and most notably, he missed a one-on-one opportunity against his former PSG teammate Donnarumma (49th minute).

Désiré Doué: 5

He was less impactful than in the match against Belgium. After a few unsuccessful dribbles, his technical execution improved. He had France's first significant chance after halftime with a good shot (49th minute). He was replaced by Barcola (77th minute).

Zinedine Zidane: 6

His team dominated with numerous chances, high pressing, and fluid movement. He opted for a technically gifted midfield, notably combining Da Cunha and Cherki. However, the celebration of his return to the Stade de France was somewhat marred by Italy's equalizer and Upamecano's late red card. Perhaps earlier substitutions could have prevented Italy's resurgence.