Mancini challenges Zidane's France at the Stade de France. Italy seeks redemption after the failed qualifications.
The Italian national soccer team takes the field tonight, Wednesday, October 2, 2026, for the third match of the UEFA Nations League. The game, valid for Group 1 of League A, will be played at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis against France, at 20:45. The match will be broadcast live on Rai 1 and streamed on RaiPlay.
Head coach Roberto Mancini, on the eve of the match, stated that the team will face the challenge "with the mentality to win," while acknowledging the strength of the opponents, who have reached the top four in three consecutive World Cups. Among the Azzurri, Gigio Donnarumma is confirmed to be in goal. France, led by Zinedine Zidane, will be without Mbappé due to injury but can count on players such as Ballon d'Or winner Dembelé, Doue, and Olise.
The UEFA Nations League is a European football competition for national teams, established in 2018 to replace friendly matches with competitive games. Italy, the European champion in 2021, has not qualified for the last three editions of the World Cup (2022, 2024, 2026), a period of crisis for the Azzurri. France, on the other hand, has been a global powerhouse since its triumph at the 2018 World Cup and has never finished outside the top four in the last three editions.
This match comes at a delicate moment for the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), with controversies over the possibility of being placed under administration and the recent resignation of the delegation head, Diana Bianchedi. For Italy, the 2026/27 Nations League represents an opportunity for redemption and growth on the path toward its next international objectives. The challenge against one of the strongest teams in the world is a crucial test to assess the state of Mancini's squad.
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