The 2024/25 UEFA Nations League group phase draws to a close with a heavyweight tussle between Italy and France in Milan.

There’s bound to be a dead-rubber feel to this encounter with both teams already securing their places in next March’s all-new quarter-finals. A 3-1 victory over France back in September set up the Azzurri nicely in Group A2, and they’ll top the group unless Les Blues win by three or more goals on Sunday.

The Italians continued their excellent Nations League campaign with a 1-0 victory over Belgium in Brussels on Thursday night as Sandro Tonali scored the game’s only goal. France. meanwhile, were held to a stalemate by bottom dwellers Israel.

The French were dominant in their Matchday 5 encounter but they couldn’t find a way past Bayern Munich’s Daniel Peretz between the Israeli posts.

Here’s 90min’s preview of the Nations League clash.

Italy vs France H2H Record (Last Five Games)

Current form (all competitions)

Luciano Spalletti is bound to rotate from Thursday’s XI for France’s visit. There could be starts for the red-hot Moise Kean in Milan after Mateo Retegui got the nod in Brussels, while Manuel Locatelli, Destiny Udogie, Guglielmo Vicario, and Federico Gatti are in contention.

Spalletti matched up with Belgium by deploying a back three in Brussels and that system remains an option on Sunday. However, the Italians boast the flexibility to switch to a back four.

The Azzurri are without holding midfielder Samuele Ricci as well as injured Atalanta duo Gianluca Scamacca and Giorgio Scalvini.

Italy predicted lineup vs France (3-5-1-1): Vicario; Di Lorenzo, Gatti, Buongiorno; Cambiaso, Barella, Locatelli, Tonali, Udogie; Raspadori; Kean.

Didier Deschamps opted against including superstar forward Kylian Mbappe in his November squad, insisting it’s “for the best”. Les Bleus are blessed with attacking talent in abundance despite Mbappe’s absence, but they drew a blank on Thursday.

Marcus Thuram and Kingsley Coman are among the contenders to be drafted into the France team in Milan on Sunday. William Saliba should also come into the defence with goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier potentially earning his first cap.

Adrien Rabiot, a Deschamps favourite, could replace Eduardo Camavinga in midfield, while N’Golo Kante is unlikely to start again having played the entirety of the stalemate with Israel.

France predicted lineup vs Italy (4-2-3-1): Chevalier; Pavard, Saliba, Upamecano, Hernandez; Guendouzi, Rabiot; Dembele, Nkunku, Coman; Thuram.

Neither team is playing for anything on Sunday, although France will want to get one over their upcoming opponents given what the Azzurri did to them back in September.

Spalletti’s Italy were superb that night, and this Nations League campaign has brought the best out of the former Napoli boss, who’s got this Italy team purring. Their victory in Brussels on Thursday was mightily controlled, and the buoyant mood surrounding their squad right now suggests they’ll triumph against a talented France side that comes with a few more question marks.

Prediction: Italy 2-0 France

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