Italy vs France Lineups, Prediction, Betting Tips & Odds

Italy vs France Match Summary

Italy host France at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on Thursday night in a UEFA Nations League A clash between the log's top two, with first place firmly on the line.

Italy sit second, chasing the leaders. Roberto Mancini's side carry seven points into Thursday and need a result to keep the race alive going into their last outing against Belgium.

France arrive top of the log on 10 points. Zinedine Zidane's side know a win in Milan would officially wrap up first place, and they have the attacking weapons to do it.

France have won their last 3 away matches against Italy in all competitions. The previous meetings lean heavily towards the visitors too, with France winning four of them.

Italy vs France Form

Italy are unbeaten across their last three outings in this competition, a run that includes a draw with France. Their latest was a 3-1 win over a struggling Türkiye side at Renato Dall'Ara, with the damage done in the final half-hour. Sandro Tonali and Nicolò Barella give the engine room real bite.

France have yet to lose in the competition, and their last outing showed exactly why. Michael Olise's brace capped a remarkable 4-1 comeback against Belgium, with every goal arriving late in the piece. That says plenty about the depth Zidane can call on, and Kylian Mbappé leading the line only adds to it.

Italy vs France Lineups & Team News

Injuries & Suspensions

Italy: Mohamed Alì Zoma (Injured/out), Gianluca Mancini (Injured/out), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Injured/out), Matteo Ruggeri (Injured/out), Giacomo Raspadori (Injured/out)

France: Pierre Kalulu (Injured/out), Jules Koundé (Injured/out), Ousmane Dembélé (Injured/out), Maxence Lacroix (Injured/out), Maghnes Akliouche (Injured/out)

Italy

Giacomo Raspadori, Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Matteo Ruggeri are among the players set to miss out for the home side. Roberto Mancini could hand a start to Roma centre-back Daniele Ghilardi, while Michael Kayode and Riccardo Calafiori will start as the full-backs.

France

Dayot Upamecano served his suspension against Belgium and is available again. The bigger story in the Italy vs France lineups is that Michael Olise and Désiré Doué return to the starting side after being benched against Belgium, which gives the away side's attack a serious lift.

Italy vs France Predicted Lineup

Italy

Formation: 4-3-3

Predicted Starting Lineup: Gianluigi Donnarumma; Michael Kayode, Alessandro Bastoni, Daniele Ghilardi, Riccardo Calafiori; Sandro Tonali, Alessandro Romano, Nicolò Barella; Sebastiano Esposito, Francesco Pio Esposito, Nicolò Cambiaghi

France

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Predicted Starting Lineup: Guillaume Restes; Andy Diouf, Leny Yoro, Jérémy Jacquet, Malo Gusto; Lucas da Cunha, Eduardo Camavinga; Désiré Doué, Rayan Cherki, Michael Olise; Kylian Mbappé

Italy vs France Key Stats & Match Facts

• There have been 29+ shots taken in 4 of Italy's last 4 matches (UEFA Nations League A).
• France have had 7+ shots on target in 3 of their last 3 matches (UEFA Nations League A).
• Michael Olise has scored or assisted in 4 of his last 4 apps (UEFA Nations League A).

Italy vs France Prediction & Best Bets

Our prediction: Italy 1-2 France. This Italy vs France prediction comes down to personnel. Italy are without five players through injury, while France get Olise and Doué back, and that front four carries too much threat for a reshuffled home defence. Italy can find the net in front of their own crowd, but the visitors simply have more ways to hurt them.

Best Bets

France to win (Win Market) The away side lead the log and top the form rankings too. With their first-choice attackers restored, France bring plenty of threat to Milan, and that is why this market gets our nod.

Over 2.5 Goals (Total Goals Over/Under) Rounding out our Italy vs France best bets, each of Italy's last 3 home matches against France in all competitions has cleared this line. Our 1-2 projection points the same way, with France's attack sharp and Italy capable of landing a blow of their own.

Italy vs France Bet Builder

Our Italy vs France bet builder tips lean fully into the away side's attack: Olise to score, Doué to hit the target, Cherki to provide an assist and France to win plenty of corners.

Michael Olise has found the net in each of his last 3 UEFA Nations League A apps. Back in the starting side on the right, he is the leg this builder is built around.

Désiré Doué's last 4 UEFA Nations League A apps have all brought at least one shot on target. Restored on the left, he only needs to test Donnarumma once.

Rayan Cherki has a goal or an assist to show from every one of his last 3 UEFA Nations League A apps. Operating centrally behind Mbappé, he is ideally placed to play the final pass.

Over 5.5 away corners has landed in 3 of the last 3. A France side that commits bodies forward forces blocks and deflections, and that keeps the corner count ticking over.

Make sure to get the best odds on your Bet Builder with Oddschecker's Exclusive Bet Builder Comparison Tool.

Bet builder odds correct at time of publishing.

Italy vs France Talking Points

This fixture will be won and lost on the flanks. Olise will run at Michael Kayode down the right, while Doué goes up against Riccardo Calafiori on the other side. That is the kind of wide pairing that would give any DStv Premiership full-back sleepless nights, and Italy's patched-up back line has to stay compact with Kylian Mbappé lurking through the middle. In the engine room, Sandro Tonali has to get on the ball and give the home side some control, because chasing France around Milan for 90 minutes is a messy way to spend a Thursday night. On the touchline, Roberto Mancini, in his second spell in charge of Italy, comes up against Zinedine Zidane, who succeeded Didier Deschamps in the France job.

Italy vs France Predictions FAQs

When is the Italy vs France UEFA Nations League game?

The match is on Thursday 12 November 2026, with kick-off at 21:45 SAST.

Where is Italy vs France being played?

Italy vs France is being played at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.

Which Italy players are injured for the match?

Mohamed Alì Zoma, Gianluca Mancini, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Matteo Ruggeri and Giacomo Raspadori are all listed as injured.

Who is in France's predicted starting lineup?

France are predicted to line up in a 4-2-3-1 with Guillaume Restes, Andy Diouf, Leny Yoro, Jérémy Jacquet, Malo Gusto, Lucas da Cunha, Eduardo Camavinga, Désiré Doué, Rayan Cherki, Michael Olise and Kylian Mbappé.

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