France Takes Revenge on Italy and Snatches the Top Spot
France avenged their home defeat against Italy by winning them and seizing the top spot in Group B of League A in the UEFA Nations League with a 3-1 victory in Milan.
At San Siro, former Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot returned to Italy in style, scoring two of France’s three goals, all from set pieces. This victory served as revenge for the French, who lost by the same score line at Parc des Princes in Paris during the first leg.
Both teams entered the sixth and final round already qualified for the quarter-finals after Italy defeated Belgium 1-0 and France played to a goalless draw against Israel in the previous round on Thursday.
With their head-to-head encounters ending in a draw, the overall goal difference came into play, favoring France by a single goal, allowing them to top the group ahead of the Azzurri. Belgium remained in third with four points after another disappointing result, losing to Israel (also on four points) in Budapest.
Italy played without their captain and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who was replaced by Guglielmo Vicario. Inter midfielder Nicolò Barella wore the captain’s armband for Italy, while Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté captained France for the first time due to N’Golo Kanté starting on the bench.
Much like the first leg, where they scored within the opening minute, the French struck early again, netting just 1 minute and 59 seconds into the game through Rabiot with a header off a Lucas Digne corner.
The new Marseille player became the fastest French scorer in an away official match in 40 years, matching Patrick Battiston’s record from October 13, 1984, when he scored against Luxembourg in a World Cup qualifier. Rabiot’s early strike set the tone for France, who, for the first time since March 30, 1991, scored three goals from set pieces in a single game, then against Albania.
England Returns to League A
At Wembley in London, England secured a return to League A with a commanding 5-0 win over Ireland in the sixth and final round of Group B in League B.
England waited until the start of the second half to explode with three goals in just 5 minutes and 36 seconds, scored by captain and all-time top scorer Harry Kane (53′ from the penalty spot), Anthony Gordon (55′), and Conor Gallagher (58′). Substitutes Jarrod Bowen (76′) and Taylor Harwood-Bellis (79′) added the fourth and fifth goals, respectively.
The English played their last match under interim coach Lee Carsley (50), who will be replaced by German Thomas Tuchel on January 1.
Carsley surprisingly started Bayern Munich striker Kane, who had come off the bench in the previous 3-0 win over Greece. Kane once again delivered, increasing his tally to 69 goals for the national team.
England topped the group with 15 points, surpassing Greece on goals scored in head-to-head encounters (1-2 and 3-0). Greece secured a 2-0 win over Finland in the final round, with goals from Anastasios Bakasetas (52′) and Christos Tzolis (56′).
England’s only defeat under Carsley came at Wembley against Greece, losing 1-2. Ireland finished third with six points, while Finland, at the bottom, ended the campaign without a single win, suffering their sixth straight loss to Greece.
