Italy beat 10-year statistic in first-half performance in 1-1 draw away against France

Italy earned an encouraging 1-1 draw away against France in the UEFA Nations League at the Stade de France on October 2, 2026. During the match, Italy registered eight first-half shots, marking the highest shot tally recorded by an opposing national team in a first half against France on French soil since Germany registered 11 during the EURO 2016 semifinals.

The positive result continues Italy's recovery under manager Roberto Mancini, following a previous 4-1 victory over Turkey. Despite French reports noting France's dominance and highlighting vital interventions by Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, the performance was widely viewed as a positive turnaround following Italy's recent failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.