France Faces Italy in Crucial Nations League Clash Amid Major Absences

On November 12, 2026, the French national football team will take on Italy at the Giuseppe Meazza stadium in Milan in a pivotal UEFA Nations League match. France requires just one point from this encounter to secure its place in the quarter-finals, a testament to their strong performance so far under coach Zinédine Zidane, who has been at the helm for a month. However, Zidane faces a daunting challenge, as 11 key players are sidelined due to injuries, including captain Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, William Saliba, Jules Koundé, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Marcus Thuram, and Pierre Kalulu.

The absence of Mbappé, who has been a prolific scorer with 67 goals in 107 appearances and currently nursing a minor hamstring issue, necessitates lineup adjustments. Rising talent Désiré Doué is set to lead the attack, supported by Michael Olise and Bradley Barcola on the wings. The midfield will include Lucas Da Cunha, Cherki, and Adrien Rabiot, with a defensive line featuring Mike Maignan in goal along with Jonathan Gusto, Eliot Jacquet, Dayot Upamecano, and Pape Diouf.

Despite the depleted squad, France remains unbeaten in the Nations League group stage during Zidane's tenure, holding a solid record including three consecutive away wins against Italy. A win in Milan would allow France to equal the historical record of thirteen victories in a calendar year, a feat last achieved in 2003 when Zidane was a player. Conversely, Italy, aiming to improve their form after missing the last three World Cups and struggling to keep clean sheets recently, will be looking to halt France’s momentum.

The match kicks off at 20:45 CET and will be broadcast live on TF1 and streamed on TF1+ and sports.orange.fr, drawing significant attention given the stakes and the French squad’s notable absences. Zidane remains optimistic about Mbappé’s return for the next match against Turkey, but for now, the onus is on emerging stars like Olise and Doué to step up for Les Bleus in this crucial tie.