September 06, (THEWILL) – Bradley Barcola scored the fastest goal in French national team history, netting just 12 seconds into the match.
However, France ultimately lost 3-1 to Italy in their UEFA Nations League opener.
Italy quickly recovered from the early setback. Federico Dimarco equalised with a volley after 30 minutes, following a clever exchange with Sandro Tonali. The Italians dominated possession and created several chances throughout the first half.
In the second half, Italy took the lead when Mateo Retegui set up Davide Frattesi for a close-range finish. Giacomo Raspadori later sealed the victory with Italy’s third goal, assisted by fellow substitute, Destiny Udogie.
This result continues France’s poor run in the Nations League, with only one win in their last seven matches in the competition. In contrast, Italy started their Nations League campaign with a victory for the first time.
The match marked another chapter in the longstanding rivalry between these two football powerhouses. Italy’s comeback victory will boost their confidence for future fixtures, while France will need to address their recent form in the tournament.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
