7 Serie A players could be involved for France against Italy in Nations League test
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - SEPTEMBER 28: Players of France pose for a team photograph before the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Belgium and France at Stade Roi Baudouin on September 28, 2026 in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
Italy are due to take on France at the Stade de France in Paris on Friday evening, and could potentially come up against seven Serie A players on the night.
The France vs. Italy match will be Zinedine Zidane’s first home match in charge of the France national team after replacing Didier Deschamps as head coach of Les Bleues. The former Juventus star summoned seven different Serie A players up for his first international break, including first call-ups for Como pair Jean Butez and Lucas Da Cunha.
There were also France calls for Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu, Inter utility man Andy Diouf, plus midfielders Manu Kone of Roma and Adrien Rabiot of Milan.
Maignan has been France’s first-choice goalkeeper in 2026 and is expected to keep hold of his starting spot for the visit of Italy on Friday evening. Other than the Rossoneri stopper, it remains to be seen which of the Serie A stars could take to the field against the Azzurri.
Pre-match reports from Il Messaggero suggest that Inter’s Diouf and Juventus’s Kalulu will start at full-back against Italy, but other outlets suggest that Jules Kounde and Adrien Truffert might be preferred.
Rabiot and Kone will be hoping to return to the France starting line-up against Italy after being left out of the XI for Monday night’s game against Belgium. Lucas Da Cunha did start against Belgium, but might be one of the players sacrificed for rotation purposes.
In attack, France are predicted to go with a fearsome front three of Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue, but fortunately for Italy, there will be no Kylian Mbappe, who has returned to Real Madrid ahead of schedule.
The Azzurri, meanwhile, have sent Federico Dimarco, Bryan Cristante, Nicolo Zaniolo and Giacomo Raspadori back home since the beginning of the September-October camp.
Available France squad to take on Italy
Goalkeepers: Guillaume Restes (Toulouse), Mike Maignan (Milan), Jean Butez (Como).
Defenders: Pierre Kalulu (Juventus), Adrien Truffert (Bournemouth), Dayo Upamecano (Bayern Munich), Joules Kounde (Barcelona), Andy Diouf (Inter), Leny Yoro (Manchester United), Maxence Lacroix (Chelsea), Jeremy Jacquet (Liverpool).
Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Manu Kone (Roma), Rayan Cherki (Manchester City), Adrien Rabiot (Milan), Magnes Akliouche (PSG), Lucas Da Cunha (Como).
Forwards: Ousmane Dembele (PSG), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Bradley Barcola (Liverpool), Esteban Lepaul (Rennes), Desire Doue (PSG).
Potential France XI vs. Italy
(4-3-3): Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Jacquet, Truffert; Cherki, Kone, Rabiot; Olise, Dembele, Doue.
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