Italy fight back to beat France 3-1 at San Siro and move top of Nations League group

Italy stormed back to win 3-1 against France at San Siro in Milan on Thursday and go top of their Nations League group. Francesco Pio Esposito struck twice to inflict a first defeat on Zinedine Zidane as France head coach.

Michael Olise put the visitors in front after 10 minutes, profiting from a Gianluigi Donnarumma error. Donnarumma passed the ball straight to Olise, who skipped past a defender before firing home his fifth goal in five Nations League games, a record only bettered by England captain Harry Kane's seven.

France were without star attackers Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele through injury, but made an electric start under pouring rain in Milan. Desire Doue hit the side netting, first-time captain Adrien Rabiot tested Donnarumma, and Lucas Da Cunha's rasping half-volley flew narrowly wide.

Italy struck back in the 26th minute with their first chance of the game. Nicolo Cambiaghi drove to the byline and cut back a cross, which Esposito converted with a deft touch.

The goal brought San Siro to life. Two minutes later the older Esposito sibling, Sebastiano, forced a sharp save from Mike Maignan. Bradley Barcola came closest to a third goal before the break with a curling shot that struck the foot of the far post.

The end-to-end nature of the game continued in the second half. Rayan Cherki's rasping strike was tipped onto the post by Donnarumma before Italy charged up the other end and forced Maignan into a point-blank save from Cambiaghi.

Italy had a glorious chance to go in front on the hour mark when Cambiaghi was tripped by Malo Gusto to earn a penalty, but Sebastiano Esposito hammered his spot kick wide and failed to join his brother on the scoresheet.

The Azzurri did not dwell on the disappointment for long. Just three minutes later Davide Frattesi drilled in a shot from a Federico Dimarco cross, moments after the wing-back was brought off the bench, to give Italy the lead.

Fellow substitute Antonio Vergara earned the home side another penalty when he was tripped by Dayot Upamecano, and this time Francesco Pio Esposito stepped up to drill a shot into the bottom corner for his second goal.

The result sent Italy top of Group A1 on 10 points, level with France but above them on head-to-head record. Belgium are third on nine points after inflicting a fifth straight defeat on bottom side Turkiye.

The result continued a strong start to Roberto Mancini's second spell as Italy coach, with the side stretching their unbeaten run to four matches and notching their first home win over France since 1962. Belgium host Italy and Turkiye travel to France in the final round of group games on Sunday.

Elsewhere, captain Harry Kane celebrated his record 126th cap for England with a match-winner from the penalty spot as England beat Croatia 2-1 at Wembley to qualify for the Nations League last eight. Kane's 64th-minute penalty was his 92nd England goal, sent straight down the middle in front of a crowd of 80,400 as goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic dived to his left. Kane was handed a commemorative token by former goalkeeper Peter Shilton, the previous record holder since 1989 when he surpassed Bobby Moore's 108 caps.