Prediction: France vs Italy

In what is a heavyweight Nations League showdown on Friday night, France will welcome Italy to Paris this weekend.

With another stacked Nations League schedule from across the continent, there are plenty of attractive betting promotions available.

Starting with the hosts, returning home with nothing to show following their World Cup adventure over the summer, France have got a new era underway. Officially getting Zinedine Zidane’s blockbuster tenure off with consecutive Nations League victories over the past week, Les Bleus will be looking to make a heavyweight statement when they return to Paris on Friday night. Getting there League A campaign underway with consecutive gritty 1-0 wins against Belgium and Turkey, France have their sights set on mounting a Nations League charge this year. Landing a 3-1 victory when they last met Italy for a League A showdown back in November 2024, the former Real Madrid boss will be demanding a repeat performance from his superstar squad this weekend. Backed by a vocal home support in Paris on Friday night, Zidane’s men find themselves pencilled in as a standout contender on home soil.

Suffering a knee injury against Turkey last week in what was a huge blow for Les Bleus, France have confirmed that talismanic skipper Kylian Mbappe has returned to Real Madrid and will not play any further part this month. Coming off the bench and bagging a dramatic late winner against Belgium on Monday night, Bayern Munich superstar Michael Olise will be handed a full recall.

Likewise, given what is a speedy turnaround, the likes of Adrien Rabiot and reigning Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele should feature from the start. Completing a permanent summer switch to Chelsea, Maxence Lacroix will keep his spot at the heart of France’s defence.

As for the visitors, remarkably missing out on a third consecutive World Cup finals back in March as they fell to an infamous penalty shootout defeat against Bosnia & Herzegovina, Italy have found themselves under a huge amount of public scrutiny. Getting their Nations League adventure underway with another concerning display as they slumped to a shock 2-0 loss at home against Belgium, Roberto Mancini’s men are desperately searching for some kind of stability. Despite being last seen on Monday night cruising their way to a thumping 4-1 victory against Turkey, the Azzurri will be bracing themselves for a monumental Nations League challenge this weekend. Including that 3-1 defeat when they last met France back in November 2024, they have also lost four of their previous five showdowns against Les Bleus.

While Inter Milan ace Federico Dimarco might have initially been included in Italy’s squad this month, the 28-year-old was forced to withdraw due to a knee injury. Left as an unused substitute against Turkey earlier in the week, Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori could be handed an immediate full recall.

Despite enduring a downbeat start to life with Premier League strugglers Tottenham, Sandro Tonali will start in the middle of the park. Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma will start between the sticks in Paris and will earn an 86th international cap here.

France vs Italy Key Factors to Consider

• When France and Italy last met for a Nations League showdown back in November 2024, Les Bleus claimed a 3-1 victory at the San Siro.
• In fact, France have won four of their previous five meetings against Italy across all competitions.
• However, Italy did clinch a famous 3-1 win when they last travelled to Paris back in September 2024.
• Each of the last five straight meetings between France and Italy have finished with both teams finding the net.
• The last four meetings between the two European heavyweights have finished in a 3-1 scoreline.

While France might have failed to find their free-flowing best since getting their Nations League adventure underway last week, Les Bleus can boast a 100% start to proceedings. Looking to lay down a real marker when they make their first post-World Cup appearance in Paris on Friday night, Les Bleus should be excited by a dominant recent record against Italy. Landing a 3-1 victory when they last met their historic foes for a Nations League showdown back in November 2024, they have also won four of their previous five battles across all competitions.

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Soccer Predictions

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