San Siro Stunner: Italy Hands Zidane First Loss as France Boss
Following a 3-1 defeat to Italy at San Siro Stadium in Milan during the UEFA Nations League group phase match, France head coach Zinedine Zidane addressed reporters in a post-match press briefing to review his first loss at the helm of Les Bleus.
Zidane Assesses Tactical Decline and Defensive Lapses After San Siro Reverse
Malo Gusto
playerPrompted to evaluate the unfolding of the match after Michael Olise opened the scoring following a goalkeeping error, the France manager pointed to a distinct shift in control after the interval.
“We had a good initial approach and held the ball well, but after the break we lost our way, especially defensively,”Zidane explained during the briefing.
The tactical pivot allowed the Azzurri to overturn the deficit through goals from Francesco Pio Esposito and Davide Frattesi, compounded by a missed penalty from Sebastiano Esposito before a second spot-kick converted by Pio Esposito sealed the outcome. Zidane noted that while possession metrics in the opening period offered encouragement, the structural stability off the ball eroded as the second half progressed.
Zidane Defends Malo Gusto and Discusses Squad Recovery Ahead of Turkiye Clash
Asked about right-back Malo Gusto enduring a difficult evening managing the movements of Nicolò Cambiaghi and Federico Dimarco, the manager pushed back against individual criticism.
“Your job is to analyse what you need to analyse, but my focus is on recharging the batteries for the next game,”Zidane stated in response to press inquiries regarding the Chelsea defender.
“We are all united, we didn’t defend well in general as a team and need to improve. I won’t change players over one game. Malo Gusto gave away a penalty, but it can happen.”
The fixture arrived amid a heavy injury list that sidelined multiple squad members, leaving the technical staff managing limited rotation options. Addressing the fitness outlook for upcoming fixtures, Zidane commented on the potential availability of Kylian Mbappé for Sunday’s decisive group meeting against Turkiye after the forward missed the Milan trip with a minor issue.
“We hope so, that is the plan and why he has not gone back home. We just decided not to risk it tonight over a slight problem,”Zidane confirmed.
Football Italia