FRANCE manager Zinedine Zidane will be without Dayot Upamecano as he looks to bounce back from a humbling loss.

The tactician suffered his first defeat since as ran out to move top of Group A1.

Italy Sports, Milan - 12 Nov 2026
Zidane arrived after France underwhelmed at the World Cup Source: Shutterstock Editorial
ITALI¿ vs FRANKRIJK, San Siro, Milaan, Milan, Italy - 12 Nov 2026
Upamecano will not face Turkey Source: Shutterstock Editorial

‘s Upamecano, who started Thursday’s game, has left the squad for a “personal reason.”

Pio Esposito scored twice as Italy secured a first home win over Les Bleus for 64 years.

Zidane admitted: “We had a good initial approach and held the ball well, but after the break we lost our way, especially defensively.

“We stayed in the game, did good things in possession, but we fell away in the second half, especially after going 2-1 down. It is part of the process.

“The most important thing is to create chances, and we did hit the woodwork twice.

“I am not disappointed, I would’ve been if we had not had such good possession play.

“What we need to analyse is that we weren’t at the right level off the ball.

“I think Italy had a similar performance to in Paris defensively, which is what they do best.

Thursday 12 November
Czechia
0 – 2
Group 3
Spain
Italy
3 – 1
Group 1
France
Montenegro
2 – 1
Group 2
Latvia
San Marino
0 – 2
Group 1
Belarus
Albania
2 – 0
Group 1
Finland
Türkiye
1 – 2
Group 1
Belgium
Friday 13 November
Moldova
17:00
Group 3
Kazakhstan
Slovakia
Slovakia-main
19:45
Group 3
Faroe Islands
Bulgaria
19:45
Group 4
Iceland-flag
Iceland
Luxembourg
19:45
Group 4
Estonia
Andorra
19:45
Group 1
Gibraltar
Netherlands
Holland-flag
19:45
Group 2
Greece
Serbia
Serbia
19:45
Group 2
Germany-flag
Germany
League A – Group 1 Pld Pts GD W D L Form
1
5
10
5
3
1
1
2
5
10
3
3
1
1
3
5
9
2
3
0
2
4
5
0
-10
0
0
5
League A – Group 2 Pld Pts GD W D L Form
1
4
8
2
2
2
0
2
Greece
4
8
2
2
2
0
3
4
5
1
1
2
1
4
4
0
-5
0
0
4
League A – Group 3 Pld Pts GD W D L Form
1
5
15
9
5
0
0
2
5
12
12
4
0
1
3
5
3
-11
1
0
4
4
5
0
-10
0
0
5
League A – Group 4 Pld Pts GD W D L Form
1
4
12
5
4
0
0
2
4
6
0
2
0
2
3
4
3
-3
1
0
3
4
4
3
-2
1
0
3
League B – Group 1 Pld Pts GD W D L Form
1
4
12
10
4
0
0
2
Slovenia
4
7
2
2
1
1
3
4
4
-2
1
1
2
4
4
0
-10
0
0
4
League B – Group 2 Pld Pts GD W D L Form
1
4
8
4
2
2
0
2
4
7
1
2
1
1
3
4
4
-3
1
1
2
4
Georgia
4
2
-2
0
2
2
League B – Group 3 Pld Pts GD W D L Form
1
4
8
4
2
2
0
2
Kosovo
4
5
-1
1
2
1
3
4
5
2
1
2
1
4
Israel
4
2
-5
0
2
2
League B – Group 4 Pld Pts GD W D L Form
1
4
10
4
3
1
0
2
4
8
3
2
2
0
3
4
4
3
1
1
2
4
4
0
-10
0
0
4
League C – Group 1 Pld Pts GD W D L Form
1
5
12
7
4
0
1
2
Belarus
5
10
5
3
1
1
3
5
7
5
2
1
2
4
San Marino
5
0
-17
0
0
5
League C – Group 2 Pld Pts GD W D L Form
1
Montenegro
5
13
4
4
1
0
2
Cyprus
5
8
2
2
2
1
3
Armenia
5
5
-1
1
2
2
4
Latvia
5
1
-5
0
1
4
League C – Group 3 Pld Pts GD W D L Form
1
4
10
7
3
1
0
2
Faroe Islands
4
4
0
0
4
0
3
Moldova
4
4
-5
1
1
2
4
Kazakhstan
4
2
-2
0
2
2
League C – Group 4 Pld Pts GD W D L Form
1
4
8
6
2
2
0
2
Estonia
4
6
1
1
3
0
3
Bulgaria
4
4
-2
1
1
2
4
Luxembourg
4
3
-5
1
0
3
League D – Group 1 Pld Pts GD W D L Form
1
Malta
3
7
2
2
1
0
2
Gibraltar
2
2
0
0
2
0
3
Andorra
3
1
-2
0
1
2
League D – Group 2 Pld Pts GD W D L Form
1
Azerbaijan
3
5
1
1
2
0
2
Lithuania
3
4
1
1
1
1
3
Liechtenstein
2
1
-2
0
1
1

“I must admit, I thought they played better with the ball at their feet in the first game, but they won tonight and that’s all.”

host on Sunday as Zidane battles an injury crisis.

and Pierre Kalulu have been ruled out, joining , , Maxence Lacroix, Manu Kone, and Esteban Lepaul on the sidelines.

was rested against Italy and is in line to return.

France and Italy are locked together on 10 points, with a point behind after a comeback win over Turkey.

The top two go into the quarter-finals, meaning victory will ensure Zidane’s side progress.