New Delhi: Two of the biggest teams from Europe, France and Italy, will start their UEFA Nations League 2024-24 campaign at Parc des Princes. Italy had a dismal outing during the Euros 2024 and failed to defend the title, crashing out in the final-16 stage. France reached the semi-final stage and lost to eventual winners Spain.
Despite nearly staking a claim at the Euros final, France, throughout the tournament, didn’t appear a confident unit. Their biggest drawback in the tournament was not having their captain, Kylian Mbappe, at full fitness, who suffered a nose injury in the opening game against Austria. In the entirety of the tournament, Mbappe scored just once, appearing on the pitch with a mask.
Les Bleus manager Didier Deschamps was at the receiving end of rebuke for his tactics for the team’s performance. However, Deschamps has a task in hand leading the team back to another European multi-nation campaign. Under the 55-year-old manager, France has won the 2018 World Cup and the 2020-21 UEFA Nations League. Despite the international glories, their performance in the last Nations League was appalling, taking just five points from six games.
During the Euros, Italy were drawn in a group that was already facing some tough teams and had almost missed out on progressing to the knockout stage of the tournament. Luciano Spalletti’s team never looked like a defending champions of the tournament and failed to find their ground in every game, eventually losing to Switzerland in the final-16 round.
Italy’s manager Luciano Spalletti has mentioned the need for his side to be more consistent and the need to bring youth in the side over the established names. Italy though arrived in Euros unbeaten in six games and had finished have finished third the 2020-21 and 2022-23 Nations League as well.
Both teams have to bring their A-game, and the team that will finish at the bottom of their group will be relegated. In their group, if either side finishes at the bottom, they will automatically be relegated from Group A to Group B.
Team News
Deschamps has almost kept the same team for the upcoming matches for Nations League that went to Germany for Euros, with exception for free agent Adrien Rabiot and Inter Milan defender Benjamin Pavard who have dropped. Bayern Munich’s winger Michael Olise has got his first call to the senior team, having made a record seven goal involvements in the Olympics of France’s campaign to silver medal. Even Roma’s recent buy, Manu Kone, might make his debut with the senior side.
Loic Bade, too, has been added to the squad following Wesley Fofana’s withdrawal post-injury recovery for a complete return to fitness. Ferland Mendy has pulled out of the squad and has been replaced by Aston Villa’s left-back Lucas Digne, with Matteo Guendouzi brought in to feature in the midfield.
Italy’s squad has dropped Gianluca Scamacca, who recently suffered an ACL injury, and Nicolo Barella, who recently underwent sinus surgery. Spalletti has dropped eight players from his Euro team, including Gianluca Mancini and Jorginho. However, Marco Brescianni and Caleb Okoli have received their first call-ups, with Destiny Udogie, Moise Kean, and Sandro Tonali returning to the squad.
Spalletti also has also mentioned his wish to move from the tactics he used in Germany and employ a back three for the upcoming matches. This means Giacomo Raspadori, along with Atlanta BC’s Mateo Retegui, could feature in the starting with a 3-52 formation.
Predicted XI
France:
Maignan; Kounde, Saliba, Konate, T. Hernandez; Kante, Tchouameni, Zaire-Emery; Dembele, Thuram, Mbappe
Italy:
Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Buongiorno, Bastoni; Cambiaso, Ricci, Tonali, Frattesi, Dimarco; Raspadori, Retegui
Where to watch
France vs Italy will be live broadcasted on Sony Sports Network and live streamed on SonyLiv at 12:15 A.M., 6th August 2024. Kazakhstan will face Norway at 7:30 pm IST. Lithuania will clash with Cyprus at 9:30 pm. Belgium vs Israel, Slovenia vs Austria, Iceland vs Montenegro, Wales vs Turkey and Kosovo vs Romania will face each other at 12:15 am.
Early Predictions
The two teams will meet each other for the first time in 16 years, though the two teams have a long history and are going to renew their old rivalry. Playing at home, France is destructive, and the match could win 2-0.
Here’s a look at France and Italy’s clash as they kick-off their 2024 campaign for UEFA Nations League 2024-25. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
