Italy vs France Prediction & Betting Tips (17 November)

Victorious in Belgium 0-1 Thursday evening, Italy is first in the group before this match on the last day of the Nations League and qualified for the quarter-finals. The Nazionale has 13 points in 5 matches and has only let victory escape once, in the first leg against the same Belgian selection 2-2. This October meeting was followed by a crushing success over Israel 4-1 at home. Best attack in its group with 12 goals scored, the selection led by Luciano Spalletti was eighth finalist in the Euro this summer, then dominated at this stage of the competition by Switzerland 2-0. In the Nations League, it took 3rd place in the last two editions.

 The French team, winner of the 2020-2021 edition, will also be there for the quarter-finals of the Nations League. The selection of Didier Deschamps, victorious over Israel 1-4 and Belgium 1-2 in October, received Israel at the Stade de France on Thursday with the ambition of preparing well for this trip to San Siro against a team within its reach . However, she showed a new dull face on the field and conceded the point of a 0-0 draw, continuing her rather gloomy performances since the Euro during which she still made it to the semi-final. It was against the Squadra Azzurra that the Blues lost their only match in this Nations League campaign, at home at the start of September 1-3, although they had quickly opened the score at the Parc des Princes. 

The Italian squad for this gathering does not include defender Calafiori (Arsenal, 8 caps) and midfielder Ricci (Torino, 6 caps), forced to withdraw, nor the offensive Zaniolo (Atalanta, 19 caps), present in October to represent the national team. Among the Italian executives, we list the starting goalkeeper Donnarumma (PSG, 70 sel), the defender Di Lorenzo (Naples, 43 caps), the midfielder Barella (Inter Milan, 10 goals in 58 sel) but also the forward Retegui ( Atalanta), author of 6 goals in 17 appearances with the Italy jersey on his back. Retegui has also scored 2 goals in this edition of the Nations League, one less than midfielder Frattesi (Inter Milan, 23 caps), also present to challenge the France team. However, it was Tonali (Newcastle) who scored the winning goal against Belgium, his first on the evening of his 20th selection. Players like Acerbi (34 sels), Darmian (46 sels), Jorginho (57 sels) and Chiesa (7 goals in 51 sels) have not been called up since the Euro. The absence of Mbappé (Real Madrid, 48 goals in 86 caps) is the major information on the French side. The top scorer still active in the selection was left to rest in October after returning prematurely from an injury and is now paying the price for his coach's choices. Didier Deschamps also decided to do without the services of midfielder Youssouf Fofana (AC Milan, 25 caps) and left back F.

Mendy (Real Madrid, 10 caps). Otherwise, still on the left defensive side, replacement Digne returns from suspension but should remain blocked by Théo Hernandez, with whom he is in competition. Injured, defender Wesley Fofana (Chelsea), midfielder Tchouaméni (Real Madrid) and offensive player Dembélé (PSG) withdrew from this gathering. It is necessary to underline the presence of the usual executives which are Maignan (AC Milan, 27 sel) in goal and Upamecano (Bayern Munich, 28 sel) in the defensive hinge. Deschamps renewed his confidence in young Koné (AS Rome, 3 sel) and Olise (Bayern Munich, 4 sel). He summoned Chevalier, the LOSC goalkeeper, for the first time and revived Rabiot (49 sel) who is accumulating playing time in Marseille, a club he joined quite late. Warned on Thursday, Camavinga (Real Madrid, 24 caps) is suspended for this meeting.