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Italy Beat France 3-1 at San Siro as Pio Esposito Scores Twice

France led early through Michael Olise, but a double from Francesco Pio Esposito and a Davide Frattesi goal gave Italy a first home win over France since 1962 and top spot in Group A1.

By Orbit Post2 min read
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Italy Beat France 3-1 at San Siro as Pio Esposito Scores Twice

Key points

  • Italy beat France 3-1 at San Siro in Milan on Thursday, Nov 12, 2026, in the UEFA Nations League, coming from a goal down to take top spot in Group A1.
  • France led inside the first 10 minutes.
  • Pio Esposito equalised in the 26th minute, finishing from a Nicolo Cambiaghi pull-back.

Italy beat France 3-1 at San Siro in Milan on Thursday, Nov 12, 2026, in the UEFA Nations League, coming from a goal down to take top spot in Group A1. Francesco Pio Esposito scored twice and Davide Frattesi added the other goal for Italy.

France led inside the first 10 minutes. Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made an error playing the ball out from the back, and Michael Olise scored for France. It was the worst start Italy could have made in a match that carried first place in the group.

Esposito levels, then Italy take control

Pio Esposito equalised in the 26th minute, finishing from a Nicolo Cambiaghi pull-back. The goal settled Italy after the early error, and the match turned in the second half.

Sebastiano Esposito missed a penalty for Italy before the second goal arrived. Frattesi put Italy ahead in the 63rd minute from a Federico Dimarco assist. Pio Esposito then sealed the result with a penalty in the 75th minute, his second goal of the night.

The two Esposito brothers played together for Italy in the same match. ESPN reported they are the first brothers to represent Italy together since 1910.

A first home win over France since 1962

The result was Italy's first win over France on home soil since 1962, according to ESPN. It was also the first defeat for Zinedine Zidane as France head coach.

France played without their captain. Kylian Mbappe was ruled out before the match with a hamstring problem and was not on the bench, so France had to chase the game in Milan without the player they usually build their attack around.

Top of the group, level on points

Italy moved to the top of Nations League Group A1, level with France on 10 points, heading into the final round of fixtures on Sunday. Italy coach Roberto Mancini said after the match that Italy's job is not done, and that Italy need to win in Belgium on Sunday to keep top spot in the group, Football Italia reported.

That is the measure of the night in Milan. Italy gave France an early goal, missed a penalty, and still won by two, with a 26th minute equaliser, a 63rd minute go-ahead goal and a 75th minute penalty. The win puts Italy first in the group with one round left, and leaves France level on points but behind the side that beat them at San Siro.

Timeline

  1. Nov 12, 2026Michael Olise gives France an early lead at San Siro after an error by Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
  2. Nov 12, 2026Francesco Pio Esposito equalises in the 26th minute from a Nicolo Cambiaghi pull-back.
  3. Nov 12, 2026Davide Frattesi puts Italy ahead in the 63rd minute and Pio Esposito seals the 3-1 win with a penalty in the 75th minute.

Sources