Pio Esposito scores twice as Italy beat France 3–1 and go top of their Nations League group

Italy beat France 3–1 at San Siro on Thursday and moved level with them on 10 points in Nations League A Group 1, ahead on their head-to-head record. Michael Olise put France in front on 10 minutes after a loose pass from Gianluigi Donnarumma. Pio Esposito equalized on 26 minutes from Nicolò Cambiaghi's cutback.

Sebastiano Esposito, Pio's older brother, put a penalty wide on 60 minutes. Three minutes later Davide Frattesi scored from a pass by Federico Dimarco, who had just come on. Pio Esposito converted a second penalty on 75 minutes after Dayot Upamecano fouled Antonio Vergara. The Italian federation says it was Italy's first home win over France in 64 years, and Esposito's ninth goal in 14 internationals.

It was Zinedine Zidane's first defeat as France coach, AFP reports. France were without the injured Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé. Zidane said after the game that Mbappé could return against Türkiye on Sunday, according to AFP.

Belgium won 2–1 at Türkiye in İzmir and are third on nine points. Arda Güler scored a free kick on 20 minutes before Kevin De Bruyne, on 27, and Charles De Ketelaere, on 30, turned it around. On Sunday Belgium host Italy in Brussels and France host Türkiye in Bordeaux. The Italian federation says a draw would put Italy in the quarterfinals and a win would secure first place.