Italy and France are set to renew their rivalry when they meet in Matchday 5 of the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League League A Group A1 on Friday, November 13, 2026, at 3:45 AM (GMT+8), at the San Siro in Milan.
Both nations have plenty to play for heading into this encounter, with France looking to strengthen their position at the top of the group while Italy aim to close the gap on the leaders.
France currently sit first with 10 points from four matches, while Italy occupy second place with seven points. However, the visitors will be without their captain and leading attacking threat, Kylian Mbappe, who has been ruled out due to fitness concerns.
With both sides targeting a strong finish to the group stage, the match promises to be an intriguing battle between two European heavyweights.
Italy Team News
Italy head into this fixture looking to maintain their improved form under returning head coach Roberto Mancini. After suffering a 2-0 defeat against Belgium in their opening Nations League match, the Azzurri have shown considerable progress.
They responded with an impressive 4-1 victory away against Turkey before earning a hard-fought 1-1 draw against France. Gianluigi Donnarumma played a crucial role in that encounter, producing seven important saves to help his side secure a valuable point.
Italy continued their recovery with another victory over Turkey, this time recording a 3-1 win at home. Those results have helped Mancini’s team establish themselves as serious contenders for a place in the knockout stage.
However, Italy are still dealing with several absences. Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Giacomo Raspadori and Moise Kean remain unavailable due to injury concerns. Roma defender Gianluca Mancini has also withdrawn from the squad after suffering a muscular injury, with Federico Gatti called up as his replacement.
Nicolo Zaniolo has also reportedly withdrawn for personal reasons.
On a more positive note, Mancini has continued to introduce promising young players into the senior squad. Mattia Liberali and Alphadjo Cisse have received their first senior call-ups following encouraging performances at club level. Cisse has particularly impressed, scoring eight goals in 13 appearances this season.
Francesco Pio Esposito is another player to watch after enjoying an impressive scoring run. The Inter forward has already established himself as an important attacking option, while his brother Sebastiano Esposito could also feature alongside him against France.
Italy will likely rely on Donnarumma’s experience, their midfield quality and the attacking potential of the Esposito brothers to challenge the visitors.
France Team News
France have made an encouraging start under new head coach Zinedine Zidane, who officially succeeded Didier Deschamps on July 28, 2026.
The former Real Madrid and Juventus midfielder has enjoyed a promising beginning to his tenure, guiding Les Bleus to three victories and one draw in their opening four Nations League matches.
France began their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Turkey, followed by another 1-0 win against Belgium. They then played out a 1-1 draw against Italy before producing an impressive 4-1 victory over Belgium in their most recent outing.
However, France have suffered a significant setback ahead of their trip to Milan, with Kylian Mbappe ruled out of Thursday’s encounter.
The Real Madrid forward has been dealing with fitness problems after sustaining a left knee injury while scoring against Turkey in September. Recent reports also indicated hamstring discomfort, prompting Zidane to avoid taking unnecessary risks with his captain.
Aurelien Tchouameni is another notable absentee after suffering an injury. Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Senny Mayulu has consequently received his first senior France call-up as a replacement.
France still possess considerable attacking quality despite Mbappe’s absence. Michael Olise, Desire Doue, Rayan Cherki and Bradley Barcola are among the players capable of creating problems for the Italian defence.
Ibrahima Konate is also back in the national team squad, while Dayot Upamecano is expected to strengthen the visitors’ defensive options.
Despite missing some important players, France have enough quality and depth to remain a serious threat at the San Siro.
Predicted Line-Up
Italy (4-3-3)
Donnarumma; Kayode, Scalvini, Bastoni, Calafiori; Barella, Tonali, Doumbia; Cisse, Pio Esposito, Sebastiano Esposito.
France (4-3-3)
Maignan; Gusto, Jacquet, Upamecano, Truffert; Cherki, Da Cunha, Rabiot; Olise, Doue, Barcola.
Match Prediction
Italy will certainly have an advantage playing in front of their home supporters at the San Siro. Mancini’s side have shown encouraging signs of improvement, particularly in their attacking performances, and their recent results suggest they can compete against Europe’s strongest teams.
Donnarumma’s presence in goal will also be important, especially against a France side that has demonstrated impressive attacking potential throughout the group stage.
Nevertheless, France appear to have the stronger overall squad. Despite losing Mbappe and Tchouameni, Zidane still has several technically gifted players capable of influencing the outcome. Olise, Doue and Cherki could prove particularly dangerous if they find enough space between the Italian defensive lines.
Italy are expected to make life difficult for the visitors, especially during the opening stages. However, France’s attacking quality and greater squad depth could eventually make the difference.
We expect a competitive encounter, but the visitors have enough quality to secure all three points in Milan.
Predicted Score: Italy 1-2 France
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