Nations League: Italy reel in France to spoil Zidane's homecoming party

Alessandro Bastoni scored midway through the second-half to cancel out Michael Olise's 55th-minute opener for the hosts.

The Inter Milan defender pounced on Lucas Da Cunha's failure to control the ball just outside the France penalty area, advanced on the France goal and slotted his shot past the France goalkeeper Mike Maignan.

The strike silenced buoyant home supporters still roaring after Olise's second goal in as many games.

From a free-kick 25 metres from the Italy goal, the Bayern Munich star received a short pass from Ryan Cherki and whipped the ball over the Italy wall into the top left hand corner of Gigi Donnarumma's goal before he could react.

"We had chances to kill the game afterwards," Zidane told Frenchbroadcaster TF1. "But it's like that sometimes when you're up and controlling things and then you get a setback, it's difficult to get back into the match."

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Italy, who cameinto the game on the back of a 4-1 win in Turkey, finished pressing for a winner after the France defender Dayot Upamecano was sent off in the 85th minute for a second bookable offence.

"I'm disappointed for the players," added Zidane who was overseeing his first home game as head coach following wins in Turkey and Belgium last week.

"They gave everything and played well. It's encouraging. It's our third match ... we didn't win but we didn't lose either which could have been the case when we were down to 10 men."

France set the pace

France remain top of League A Group 1 with seven points from their three games.

Belgium lie second with six points following a 3-0 cruise past Turkey at the

Stade Maurice Dufrasne in Liège on Friday night.
Veteran midfielder Kevin De Bruyne scored twice and Romelu Lukaku notched up his 94th goal for his country in the victory. 

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On Monday night, France entertain Belgium at the Stade de France while Italy – who have four points – take on bottom-of-the-table Turkey.

The top two from the four groups in League A advance to the last eight next March.

The semi-finals will be played on 9 and 10 June 2027 and the final on 13 June.