Italy 3-1 Player Ratings: Pio Esposito 9.0/10 Shines As Azzurri Edge Tight 2-1 Clash Against Les Blues

The latest Italy vs France showdown left fans after an exhilarating run of action across the 90 minutes as the Azzuri reigned supreme in a 3-1 win on Thursday, November 12, 2026. France started sharper, moving the ball crisply and striking first through Michael Olise after a slick move through the center. Italy though never panicked and slowly dragged the tempo towards a more physical, set-piece heavy battle that suited them better.

What stood out to us was how often the balance of the game swung around the midfield line. France’s young core showed flashes of brilliance but lacked composure in key moments inside the box. On the other side, Italy’s more structured shape plus the intelligence of Nicolò Barella and Davide Frattesi kept grinding the visitors down.

Olise’s opener put France 1-0 up early, yet Italy responded with character and bite. Pio Esposito made it 1-1 before half-time, punishing loose defending and clever movement in the box. After the break, the penalty incident involving Malo Gusto and Nicolò Cambiaghi felt like a turning point mentally even though the spot-kick was missed. Soon after, Frattesi arrived in the box to smash home the winner, sealing a 2-1 victory for Italy in this tense France vs Italy battle in the UEFA Nations League at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.
Fans can explore Italy vs France player ratings here!!

France Player Ratings vs Italy

Goalkeeper

Mike Maignan - 6.5: From our perspective Maignan did almost everything he reasonably could. He produced two strong saves, including one high to his left from Sebastiano Esposito that kept France alive. His distribution was mostly clean and calm, with 26 accurate passes and perfect long-ball accuracy. Still, he conceded two goals, and his positioning on Frattesi’s winner looked slightly hesitant. We noticed his body language remain composed, yet he never truly imposed himself in the air.

Defenders

Malo Gusto - 5: Gusto’s night felt complicated and honestly quite disappointing overall. Going forward he offered some value, delivering one accurate cross and creating a big chance for Barcola that was blocked. Defensively though he struggled with timing, giving away multiple fouls and often arriving late in duels. The crucial moment was the penalty he conceded on Cambiaghi, which clearly rattled France’s back line. From our perspective his confidence dropped after that episode, with more cautious positioning and less assertive overlapping.

Adrien Truffert - 6.5: Truffert quietly had one of the steadier games among France’s defenders. He passed reliably with 92 percent accuracy and chipped in key passes, including the setup for Rayan Cherki’s first-half effort. We noticed his awareness in wide defensive zones, making three clearances and tracking runners fairly well. However, he sometimes allowed crosses under minimal pressure, inviting Italy to attack aerially. Overall he did his job without truly elevating the back line.

Dayot Upamecano - 6.5: Upamecano’s performance felt solid but not dominant. He distributed well from deep, completing 54 of 60 passes and sending several progressive balls into the final third. One of those balls led to a shooting chance for Adrien Rabiot early second half. Defensively he was fine in duels yet rarely proactive, and Italy found space between him and Jacquet. We expected him to command the box more aggressively on crosses, but he stayed conservative.

Jérémy Jacquet - 6: Jacquet’s night was defined partly by that early yellow card. After his booking around the 13th minute we noticed his aggression dial back. He still passed safely at a very high completion rate and contributed a couple of clearances. However his fouls gave Italy cheap territory and let them load set pieces. At times his positioning was slightly reactive, allowing Pio Esposito to attack space in front of him.

Midfielders

Adrien Rabiot - 7: Rabiot, wearing the armband, looked like France’s emotional barometer. He was everywhere, heading on target, shooting from distance and even creating big chances for teammates. We noticed him constantly demanding the ball, trying to drive tempo and press from midfield. His three or four notable efforts forced Gianluigi Donnarumma into good saves, especially from the left channel. The downside was several fouls and one conceded corner that kept Italy dangerous. Still, from our perspective he was France’s most complete outfield player on the night.

Rayan Cherki - 6.5: Cherki had a mixed game that left us slightly frustrated. Technically he was crisp, completing 35 of 38 passes and combining neatly between the lines. He produced a few shots, including one saved low by Donnarumma in the second half. Yet he lost several duels and occasionally held onto the ball too long under pressure. We expected more direct penetration and quicker decision-making in transition.

Michael Olise - 8: For us Michael Olise was clearly France’s standout and arguably the highest-rated player on their side. His goal, a composed right-footed finish into the bottom corner, showcased his calm in crowded spaces. Beyond the strike he linked play brilliantly, misplacing just one of 43 passes. He created multiple chances, including the fast-break assist for Barcola’s shot off the post. We noticed his work rate tracking back, plus intelligent pressing angles on Italy’s build-up. A couple of fouls and one handball were minor blemishes on a very strong showing.

Désiré Doué - 6.5: Doué’s display felt energetic but inconsistent. He was heavily involved, with 68 touches and several long balls that switched play effectively. His early shot from the left just missed, hinting at his attacking threat. Still, 18 possessions lost summed up his risk-heavy style, sometimes harming France’s control. We also noticed his involvement in both defensive work and progressive crossing from the flank. The injury delay around 69 minutes seemed to blunt his rhythm.

Lucas Da Cunha - 7: Lucas Da Cunha impressed us with his maturity in possession. He consistently chose safe yet progressive passing lanes, completing 53 of 55 passes. His left-footed efforts from range carried real danger, even when flying just over or wide. He helped Rabiot with a neat one-two that led to a shot saved by Donnarumma. Defensively he contributed with tackles and interceptions, showing good work rate tracking Italian midfielders. Overall he felt like a stabilizing influence in France’s structure.

Forwards

Bradley Barcola - 6: Barcola’s game might haunt him a little. He got into strong positions repeatedly, taking four shots and even hitting the post after a lightning break with Olise. However he missed two big chances and saw several efforts blocked at close range. His movement was sharp, but finishing lacked conviction when pressure rose. We noticed some frustration in his body language after the woodwork hit, with less composed decision-making afterward.

Substitutes

France Substitutes - 6.5: The data provided covers mainly the starting group, but from our perspective the bench impact felt limited. Fresh legs offered energy yet no real shift in tactical control or clear chances. France’s shape stayed similar, and Italy’s defensive block coped comfortably late on. We sensed a slight lack of belief from the incoming players once Frattesi’s goal went in. None truly changed the rhythm of the match.

Manager

Z. Zidane - 6.5: Tactically Zidane’s plan started well, with France dominating early phases and scoring first. His choice to trust a young, technical core looked justified in the opening half hour. But after Italy adjusted, France struggled to find alternative attacking routes beyond wide overloads. We noticed no major structural change following the missed Italian penalty or Frattesi’s winner. From our perspective he might have introduced more direct pace or a second striker sooner.

Italy Player Ratings vs France

Goalkeeper

Gianluigi Donnarumma - 7: Donnarumma had a strange, eventful evening. He made several crucial saves, especially from Rabiot’s headers and drives that seemed destined for the corners. His shot-stopping kept Italy in the match while France were on top. At the same time, he committed a costly error leading to Olise’s opener. We noticed occasional hesitancy with the ball at his feet and some wasteful long passes. Overall though his resilience after that early mistake deserves credit.

Defenders

Michael Kayode - 6.5: Kayode worked extremely hard on the right flank. He produced six clearances and won all his aerial duels, which impressed us given France’s pressure. Offensively he offered limited support, completing only 11 passes and losing possession often. His one offside when pushing high showed his eagerness but also slight positional naivety. Still, he helped Italy survive several dangerous crosses.

Giorgio Scalvini - 6.5: Scalvini’s game was about basics done fairly well. He cleared danger repeatedly and tracked runners inside the box. His passing was simple yet adequate, rarely risking turnovers under France’s press. However he conceded a corner that led to pressure and looked uncomfortable on quick transitions. From our perspective he needed more authority when France attacked with pace centrally.

Riccardo Calafiori - 6.5: Calafiori showed flashes of ball-carrying quality from the back. He completed 31 of 34 passes and stepped forward with two successful dribbles. Defensively he was competent, winning duels and making one key tackle in the left channel. Yet France occasionally found space behind him when he advanced too eagerly. We noticed his recovery runs were intense but not always perfectly timed.

Alessandro Bastoni - 6.5: Bastoni’s night contained both composure and one significant lapse. He passed excellently at 95 percent and read several French attacks with smart interceptions. A yellow card later on reflected rising tension and a slightly mistimed challenge. His aerial defending was solid, and he helped organize the line under pressure. From our perspective he led Italy’s back unit reasonably well despite the booking.

Midfielders

Sandro Tonali - 7: Tonali quietly knitted Italy’s midfield together. He recycled possession intelligently and hit his long balls with perfect accuracy. We noticed him dropping into the back line to protect against France’s wide overloads. His tackling was sharp and he rarely looked rushed even under press. He did commit a foul before half-time, but overall his calm stood out.

Davide Frattesi - 8.5: For us Davide Frattesi was the true man of the match and the highest rated player overall. His energy transformed Italy’s midfield, winning six of eight duels and pressing relentlessly. He arrived in the box constantly, taking two shots and converting the decisive winner after Dimarco’s cross. We noticed how his runs unsettled France’s central defenders, dragging them out of shape. Defensively he added two tackles and an interception, helping Italy survive spells of pressure. From our perspective his performance embodied modern box-to-box midfield play.

Nicolò Barella - 8: Barella orchestrated much of Italy’s threat with intelligence and craft. He delivered four key passes and several dangerous crosses, one leading to Pio Esposito’s header chance and another to Frattesi’s missed effort. His ball recoveries, seven in total, kept Italy’s counter-attacks alive. We noticed his constant scanning and clever positioning between France’s lines. While he missed one shot late in the half, his overall contribution was outstanding.

Forwards

Pio Esposito - 9: Pio Esposito had a chaotic but decisive evening. He scored Italy’s crucial equaliser with sharp movement and a composed finish inside the six-yard box. Beyond the goal he battled physically, winning half his duels and drawing several fouls. However his passing accuracy was poor, and he lost possession often while trying to link play. We noticed his aggression sometimes tipped into rash challenges, earning him a yellow card. Even so, his presence constantly worried France’s centre-backs.

Sebastiano Esposito - 6.5: Sebastiano Esposito’s performance felt like a story of fine margins. He worked hard, pressing, tackling and even registering a shot on target that Maignan tipped away brilliantly. His crossing from the left produced chances, including a setup for Pio Esposito’s blocked attempt. Yet the missed penalty stands out and drags his rating down. From our perspective you could see the frustration in his body language after that miss, and he never fully recovered before being substituted.

Nicolò Cambiaghi - 7.5: Cambiaghi was quietly vital for Italy despite playing just over an hour. He provided the assist for Pio Esposito’s equaliser with a precise ball across the box. His movement on the left repeatedly drew fouls and forced France’s defenders deeper. He also won the penalty after clever positioning, even though Esposito missed from the spot. We noticed his confidence in one-v-one situations, beating his man with timing rather than pure pace. Overall, his contribution in this France vs Italy match felt underrated.

Substitutes

Italy Substitutes - 7: The standout substitute was Federico Dimarco, whose superb cross set up Frattesi’s winning goal. His introduction gave Italy more attacking width and better delivery from the left side. Antonio Vergara added fresh energy after replacing Sebastiano Esposito, pressing France’s build-up. From our perspective Italy’s bench altered the game’s dynamic more than France’s. They helped close down the final minutes without major scares.

Manager

R. Mancini - 7.5: Mancini read the match quite well from the touchline. After France’s strong start he resisted panic, trusting Italy’s structure and set-piece strength. His substitutions around the 62nd minute changed everything, especially bringing on Dimarco to attack France’s right side. We noticed a clear tactical emphasis on crossing and second balls, which eventually paid off. From our perspective he out-coached Zidane in the key moments of this UEFA Nations League clash.