France v Italy, Nations League Matchday 1 – Parc des Princes, 06/09/2024
Having been criticised for his team’s lack of attacking edge in Germany this summer, Didier Deschamps opted for a new-look lineup for France’s Nations League opener, with Michael Olise notably making his debut after impressing at the Olympic Games.
Although the spotlight was on the returning Kylian Mbappé and the debutant Michael Olise, it was Bradley Barcola who – not for the first time this season – struck first at the Parc des Princes. Within seconds of kick-off, the in-form Paris Saint-Germain winger swiped the ball from a dithering Giovanni Di Lorenzo, before racing through on goal and beating his club teammate with his increasingly characteristic sweeping finish.
After an initial flurry of chances, though, Les Bleus seemed to regress back to their pre-summer bluntness as the half went on. Deschamps’ men would be made to pay for their on the half-hour mark, as Federico Dimarco volleyed in the equaliser after an audacious one-two with Sandro Tonali on the edge of the penalty box.
The hosts appeared to recover from the setback and regained their composure after half-time – until a loose pass from Youssouf Fofana was swiftly pounced on by the Azzurri, with Davide Frattesi finishing off the ensuing counter-attack to complete the turnaround.
A fresh wave of French attacks – spurred on by the introduction of Ousmane Dembélé and some darting runs from Théo Hernandez – would draw a few chances for an instant reply, but ultimately Les Bleus struggled to break through. The hosts would soon double their lead through Giacomo Raspadori, with the Napoli man skipping past a beleaguered William Saliba before unleashing an emphatic close-range shot past Maignan.
Despite a promising start to proceedings, Les Bleus have failed to provide any answers to the question that arose during their torpid run to the Euro 2024 semi-finals. Their opening match of the 2024/25 campaign has, if anything, seen the team lose the defensive solidity that characterised their performances this summer. The major winner tonight will have been Dayot Upamecano, given the Konate-Saliba pairing’s shaky showing – especially when faced with the Italian team’s counters in the first half.
Up front, Kylian Mbappé will have been largely anonymous on his return to the French capital, with his PSG replacement Bradley Barcola instead providing the attacking spark for the French. Whether tonight’s defeat prompts further line-up changes from Deschamps – whose inclusion of Olise from kick-off already showed a willingness to reinvent himself after the Euros – remains to be seen.
France player ratings
Mike Maignan, 5
Ibrahima Konaté, 4
William Saliba, 4
Théo Hernandez, 4
N’Golo Kanté, 4
Youssouf Fofana, 3 – The Milan man’s partnership with N’Golo Kanté was arguably the weak spot of the evening for France. Italy’s second goal was a direct consequence of his wayward pass and sluggish attempt to track back. Paid the price almost instantly by being replaced by Manu Koné on the hour mark.
Michael Olise, 5 – Played with the same ostensibly effortless that made him the breakout astar of the Paris Olympics, skipping past defenders with ease. Unlike a few weeks ago, though, the final-third impact was somewhat lacking. Replaced by Ousmane Dembélé on the hour mark.
Bradley Barcola, 6 – Scored France’s fastest-ever goal – opening the scoring after just 12 seconds – to continue his impressive run of form since the start of the campaign, at his home ground no less.
Kylian Mbappé, 3 – The Real Madrid man’s impact on his return to the Parc des Princes was minimal, save for a few combinations on the edge of the box. Evidently not suited to the lone centre-forward position in the France set-up – but given how well Barcola is playing, it would be hard to justify putting Mbappé back on the left wing in the starting lineup.
GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin – from the Parc des Princes
