France Suffers First Defeat Under Zidane, Losing 3-1 to Italy in UEFA Nations League

The French national football team suffered a 3-1 defeat against Italy on November 12, 2026, in their UEFA Nations League match held at Milan’s San Siro stadium. This marks the first loss for France under coach Zinédine Zidane, who has been rebuilding the squad since the World Cup semifinal appearance.

France took an early lead in the 10th minute with a goal by Michael Olise, capitalizing on a defensive mistake by Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Despite dominating possession and creating multiple scoring chances, including hitting the post twice, France struggled with defensive errors, particularly on the right flank with Malo Gusto involved in conceding crucial goals.

Italy quickly equalized in the 26th minute through Pio Esposito, after a lapse by the French defense. The match tilted further in Italy's favor with a second goal from Davide Frattesi in the 63rd minute and a penalty successfully converted by Esposito in the 75th minute following a foul by Upamecano. France had earlier conceded a penalty which Italy missed, reflecting moments of fluctuating fortune in the game.

The absence of key players like Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé was notable, pressuring the team’s attacking alternatives. France’s defense was also criticized for a lack of cohesion, especially in the absence of right-back Jules Koundé.

This loss jeopardizes France’s qualification hopes for the quarter-finals, as they are now tied on points with Italy in their group but have lost the head-to-head advantage. Their next match against Turkey, currently without any wins in the group, will be critical. France needs at least a draw to secure progression to the knockout stages scheduled for March 2027.

Zinedine Zidane acknowledged the need to address these issues swiftly as France faces a challenging road ahead in the competition.