Adrien Rabiot fired France to the top of Nations League Group A with two goals in a 3-1 win over Italy at the San Siro.
The Olympique Marseille midfielder put the Roosters ahead in the second minute of the match. France doubled their lead in the 33rd minute when Lika Ding struck a superb free-kick that hit the post and ricocheted off the body of Italian goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario into the net.
Luciano Spalletti's team responded instantly to the conceded goal and managed to reduce the Roosters' lead in their first attack, after Vicario's own goal. Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali's cross found Cambiazzo, who made it 1-2.
After the break, the Azzurri controlled the ball more, but did not reach dangerous situations. In the 65th minute, the hosts were caught off-guard for the second time in a static situation after Rabiot capitalized on an excellent cross from Dean's foul. The former Juventus player headed the ball in and scored his second goal of the match.
The Italians had a good chance for a second goal in stoppage time, but Moise Keane's shot was saved by Mike Menian.
With their win, France avenged their loss to Italy in their previous Nations League meeting, when the Roosters lost at home to Spalletti's side by a similar scoreline in September. | BGNES
