Italy 3–1 France: Pio Esposito double overturns Olise opener at San Siro

Italy recovered from an early setback to defeat France 3–1 at San Siro and reshape one of the tightest Nations League groups. Michael Olise struck for the visitors after ten minutes, yet Roberto Mancini's side gradually imposed themselves on the contest. Francesco Pio Esposito equalised, Davide Frattesi completed the turnaround and Pio Esposito added a late penalty for his second goal of the night. Italy and France now sit level on ten points in Group A1, with Belgium close behind.

The result cannot be reduced to a routine comeback. Italy also endured a missed spot-kick, from Sebastiano Esposito, before they finally went in front. The three-minute interval between that disappointment and Frattesi's goal showed the team's most persuasive quality: the ability to remain organised and assertive after an opportunity has gone. Against a France attack capable of punishing a moment's hesitation, that sustained response became the match's decisive feature.

Olise strikes early; the hosts refuse to lose their structure

France made the first significant impact when Olise scored in the tenth minute. The early advantage threatened to change the nature of Italy's evening, because pushing forward too quickly against such opponents can open spaces for a second goal. The hosts instead worked their way back into the game through combinations and forward movement. In the 26th minute, Nicolò Cambiaghi supplied Pio Esposito, who levelled the contest before the break.

The equaliser gave Italy a platform rather than an immediate command of the match. France retained dangerous players between and beyond the lines, and the opening half was still competitive. What changed was the balance of pressure: Italy were no longer compelled to chase a scoreline and could choose moments to bring their midfield runners into attacking positions. The 1–1 interval score kept the match open, with both teams aware that the final group round was approaching.

A missed chance precedes the decisive second-half burst

On 60 minutes, Italy had the opportunity to go ahead from the spot, but Sebastiano Esposito missed. Three minutes later Frattesi scored, turning a potentially damaging moment into an almost immediate lead. Federico Dimarco had come on shortly before the goal and contributed to the attack. The sequence is worth examining because the team's next actions were not hesitant: the midfield continued to advance, and the chance to score was created despite the frustration of the miss.

Italy finally established a two-goal margin in the 75th minute when Pio Esposito converted another penalty. This time the younger Esposito took the responsibility and finished, sealing his brace and leaving France with a far more demanding task. Italy's goals came from different phases of play, but all were tied to their determination to keep arriving in dangerous areas. Pio Esposito's double will dominate the headlines; Frattesi's timing and the collective response after the missed penalty explain why the comeback held.

What the result means for the final Nations League round

Italy and France ended the fifth round level on ten points, while Belgium moved to nine after beating Türkiye 2–1. Mancini's team visit Belgium on 15 November knowing that a draw will secure a place in the quarter-finals and a victory will deliver first place in the group. France face Türkiye in their final match. There is still meaningful uncertainty in the group, so a 3–1 victory should not be described as having settled the entire qualification race.

For France, Olise's opener provided the ideal beginning but not the sustained defensive and midfield control needed to protect it. Their attacking talent never disappeared, yet Italy's second-half persistence produced the more decisive actions. This match offers a reminder that individual quality matters less when the opposing team repeatedly rebuilds its attacks and reacts well to setbacks.

Italy's achievement was therefore not merely to score three times; it was to change the direction of a difficult evening twice. First they recovered from going behind, then they found another breakthrough after a penalty failure. Those responses should give them confidence before Brussels, where they will have to combine the same attacking conviction with the discipline needed to protect a qualifying result.