France vs Italy

International football fans are in for a treat on Friday night as two European heavyweights, France and Italy, clash at the Parc des Princes in Paris to kick off their UEFA Nations League campaigns. Both sides come into this match with something to prove after disappointing outings at Euro 2024. While France fell to eventual champions Spain in the semifinals, Italy's title defense ended much earlier than anticipated, resulting in a frustrating summer for both nations.

For France, this match offers a fresh start after a somewhat underwhelming run in the Euros. Despite making it to the semifinals, Les Bleus struggled offensively, with just one goal coming from open play outside of set pieces and own goals. Kylian Mbappe, their talismanic captain, was notably below par during the tournament, managing just one goal. His performance was hindered by an early nose injury sustained in France's opener against Austria, which forced him to wear a mask for the remainder of the competition. The injury clearly hampered his ability to play at full throttle, and France's overall play suffered as a result.

Head coach Didier Deschamps came under heavy criticism for his tactical approach, with many pointing to his conservative style as a reason for France's inability to break down well-organized defenses. However, Deschamps remains at the helm and will be looking to guide his squad to a strong start in the Nations League. With the competition taking on added importance due to the risk of relegation for the bottom team in each group, France cannot afford another lackluster campaign. In the 2021 edition, Les Bleus won the tournament, but last year, they managed only third place in their group after a disappointing series of performances.

Deschamps’ France, though still filled with star power, faces a tough group that includes Israel and Belgium. Only the top two finishers from the group will advance to the quarterfinals, and a slow start could complicate France’s path to the finals, scheduled for June next year.

On the other side, Italy comes into this match after a similarly disappointing Euro 2024 campaign. The Azzurri barely scraped through their group thanks to a last-minute goal against Croatia, only to be eliminated by France in the first knockout round. Italy’s defense of their European title was hampered by inconsistency and a lack of attacking firepower. They never truly found their rhythm and were duly knocked out by Switzerland in the round of 16, a defeat that felt inevitable given the lack of cohesion in their play.

Following their Euro 2024 exit, Italy’s head coach, Luciano Spalletti, has been tasked with reshaping the team and instilling stability. Spalletti has already started the process of integrating younger players while phasing out some of the older generation that helped Italy win Euro 2020. The transition won’t be easy, but Italy’s recent performances under Spalletti offer hope that they can regain their former stature on the international stage.

Before Spalletti took over, Roberto Mancini had guided Italy to the top of their Nations League group and a respectable third-place finish in the finals of the competition. However, Italy now finds itself in a difficult situation, as many of their key players are either aging out or unavailable due to injury. This summer has already seen a number of absences, including those of Gianluca Scamacca, who is out with an ACL injury, and Nicolo Barella, who is recovering from sinus surgery.

Despite these challenges, Italy's squad features several exciting young talents, and Spalletti’s decision to stick with a back-three formation could provide the tactical stability they need to rebuild. Up front, in-form Atalanta forwards Mateo Retegui and Giacomo Raspadori are expected to start, offering hope of a more dynamic attack compared to their previous outings.

Key Team News and Tactical Preview

France has stuck with the majority of their Euro 2024 squad for this Nations League campaign, though there are some notable changes. Inter Milan defender Benjamin Pavard has been left out, as has free agent midfielder Adrien Rabiot. On the positive side, Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise, who had a standout performance in the Olympics, has received his first call-up. Olise was instrumental in helping France win a silver medal with seven goal involvements during the tournament, and he could add some much-needed creativity and flair to the attack.

Roma midfielder Manu Kone, another potential debutant, has also been included in the squad. Meanwhile, Chelsea’s Wesley Fofana withdrew due to fitness concerns after a long injury layoff, and Olympian Loic Bade has been added as his replacement. Aston Villa left-back Lucas Digne has been called up to replace Ferland Mendy, who has also withdrawn due to injury. Midfielder Matteo Guendouzi, who plies his trade in Italy, has been brought in as cover.

Italy, meanwhile, has had to contend with a spate of injuries that have further depleted their squad. In addition to Scamacca and Barella, several other key players, including Gianluca Mancini and Jorginho, are missing from Spalletti’s squad. However, the Italian coach has called up some fresh faces, such as Marco Brescianini and Caleb Okoli, while familiar names like Destiny Udogie, Moise Kean, and Sandro Tonali return to the lineup.

Given the injury situation, Spalletti is likely to rely on a back three with Retegui and Raspadori leading the line in a 3-5-2 formation. The midfield will be key for Italy, with players like Sandro Tonali and Davide Frattesi expected to provide both defensive cover and creativity going forward.

Potential Lineups

France’s Possible Starting XI: - GK:Mike Maignan - DEF:Jules Kounde, William Saliba, Ibrahima Konate, Theo Hernandez - MID: N'Golo Kante, Aurelien Tchouameni, Warren Zaire-Emery - FW:Ousmane Dembele, Marcus Thuram, Kylian Mbappe

Italy’s Possible Starting XI: - GK:Gianluigi Donnarumma - DEF:Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Alessandro Buongiorno, Alessandro Bastoni - MID: Andrea Cambiaso, Samuele Ricci, Sandro Tonali, Davide Frattesi, Federico Dimarco - FW: Giacomo Raspadori, Mateo Retegui

Match Prediction and Key Factors

While injuries have undoubtedly taken a toll on France’s squad, their depth of talent remains a significant advantage over Italy, who are still in the early stages of their rebuild. France’s attack, led by Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and Marcus Thuram, should have enough firepower to break down Italy’s backline, even though the Italian defense is traditionally strong.

For Italy, the key will be in how well their young midfield can cope with France’s physicality and skill. Tonali and Frattesi will need to control the pace of the game and prevent France from dominating possession. Up front, Raspadori and Retegui will have to capitalize on any chances they get, as Italy’s attacking options are relatively limited.

Ultimately, France’s superior squad depth and home advantage make them favorites for this encounter. While Italy will be eager to impress under Spalletti and prove they can compete with the best, France should be able to secure a victory and take an early lead in Group 2.