Italy defeated by France in the Nations League

 ROME - In the last match week of the group stage of the Nations League Italy lost 3-1 to France. The loss means that Italy and France both end up with 13 points, but France pip Italy to first place with a goal difference higher by only one goal.

 Things did not get off to a good start for the Azzurri men. In the second minute of the match Frenchman Adrien Rabiot placed his header from a corner into the top right hand corner Italian goal, putting France ahead with the game barely having started.

 France then doubled their lead 31 minutes later. In the 33rd minute France were awarded a freekick around 10 metres outside the Italian penalty box. Despite this large distance, French left-back Lucas Digne whipped the ball hitting the crossbar. However, the ricochet hit the diving Italian goalkeeper, rebounding into the back of the net. Unfortunately for Guglielmo Vicario it will go down as an own-goal by him, even though it was due to the spectacular effort of Digne.

 The Italians were however quick to get a goal back. Andrea Cambiaso volleyed a cross in the French penalty box into the back of the net, giving the Azzurri some hope that all was not lost.

 However, the game went into a stalemate for the next 30 minutes, before in the 65th minute Adrien Rabiot scored another header from a corner, putting the game out of the grasp of the Italians.

 The result means that Italy will face either Germany, Spain or Portugal in the quarter-finals of the Nations League tournament, which are expected to take place between March 20 and March 23. All tough games that will challenge the Azzurri, but a challenge none the less that they will take in their stride.

tjpw