Rabiot is France captain for first time at San Siro against Italy

PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 02: Rayan Cherki of France reacts alongside teammate Adrien Rabiot before the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between France and Italy at Stade de France on October 02, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pauline Figuet/Getty Images)

Milan midfielder Adrien Rabiot makes history this evening, as he wears the France captain’s armband for the first time against Italy in the Nations League.

It kicks off at San Siro in Milan at 19.45 GMT (20.45 CET).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.

This is a head-to-head for the top of Group A1, where Les Bleus are on 10 points, followed by Italy on seven, while Belgium climbed to nine after the early kick-off when they came back to beat Turkiye 2-1.

The top two teams go into the quarter-finals of the Nations League, so it is all to play for ahead of the final Italian trip to Brussels on Sunday.

France have an injury crisis on their hands, which has also forced the captain’s armband to drop down the list of alternatives.

Kylian Mbappé usually has the honour, but he is out of action, along with vice-captains Ousmane Dembélé and Jules Koundé.

Rabiot therefore gets to be France captain for the first time in his career, and he does it at his ‘home’ stadium of San Siro, where he currently represents Milan.

He is not the only familiar face this evening, as his Milan teammate Mike Maignan also starts with Como midfielder Lucas Da Cunha.