Italy recover from Donnarumma error to beat France 3-1 in Nations League at San Siro
Italy recovered from an early goal to defeat France 3-1 at the San Siro in Milan in a Nations League match on 12 November 2026. Michael Olise opened the scoring after a Gianluigi Donnarumma mistake, and Pio Esposito, Davide Frattesi and a second Esposito penalty completed the comeback.
Zinedine Zidane suffered his first loss as France head coach as the result sent Italy to the top of Group A1 on 10 points, level with France but ahead on head-to-head record. Belgium sit third on nine points after a 2-1 win in Turkey, while Spain beat Czechia 2-0 to extend an unbeaten run to 44 competitive matches and secure a fifth straight Nations League win this season. Spain had already qualified for the quarter-finals before travelling to Prague and will face England in Madrid on Sunday.
France began strongly in heavy rain despite being without Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé through injury, with Désiré Doué hitting the side netting and first-time captain Adrien Rabiot testing Donnarumma before Lucas Da Cunha’s half-volley went narrowly wide. The visitors took the lead after 10 minutes when Donnarumma passed the ball straight to Michael Olise, who skipped past a defender and finished for his fifth goal in five Nations League games — a tally only bettered by England captain Harry Kane’s seven.
Italy levelled in the 26th minute through Pio Esposito after Nicolò Cambiaghi drove to the byline and cut back a cross that the Inter striker converted with a deft touch. Sebastiano Esposito threatened a quick reply two minutes later but forced a sharp save from Mike Maignan, and Bradley Barcola struck the foot of the far post with a curling effort before half-time.
The second half remained end-to-end: Rayan Cherki saw a rasping strike tipped on to a post by Donnarumma, and Italy forced Maignan into a point-blank save from Cambiaghi. Cambiaghi was then tripped by Malo Gusto to earn a penalty on the hour, but Sebastiano Esposito struck his spot-kick wide. Three minutes later Davide Frattesi put Italy ahead, drilling in from a Federico Dimarco cross shortly after Dimarco had been introduced off the bench.
Antonio Vergara earned a second penalty for the hosts when he was tripped by Dayot Upamecano, and Pio Esposito converted by drilling his shot into the bottom corner to make it 3-1. The victory extended Roberto Mancini’s unbeaten run in his second spell as Italy coach to four matches and delivered Italy’s first home win over France since 1962.
In Group A1 action elsewhere, Belgium rallied to beat Turkey 2-1 in Gursel Aksel Stadium as Kevin De Bruyne scored in the win. Arda Güler had put Turkey ahead with a 25-yard free-kick before De Bruyne levelled seven minutes later after a Jérémy Doku cutback, and Charles De Ketelaere struck after Diego Moreira’s shot was saved to secure all three points for Belgium.
Álex Baena opened Spain’s 2-0 victory over Czechia in Prague from the penalty spot on 39 minutes after VAR determined Lukas Ambros had handled inside the box, with Matej Kovar unable to keep the spot-kick out. Home captain Ladislav Krejci was sent off in the 69th minute for bringing down substitute Roberto Fernández, and Marc Pubill added a late second seconds from time when the Czech defence left him in on goal. Spain’s match also featured Fabián Ruiz hitting a post, Dean Huijsen heading straight to Kovar, Yéremy Pino having a goal overturned for offside early in the second half, and efforts from David Zima and Adam Hlozek striking the crossbar.
Czechia, managed in Prague by Santi Denia, have lost all their Nations League games this season and are next travelling to Croatia for a match they need to win to remain in the competition’s top tier. Belgium will host Italy and Turkey travel to France in the final round of group games on Sunday, while Spain will face England in Madrid on the same day.
