Bastoni leads Italy to a draw against France in the Nations League

In the third round of the UEFA Nations League, Alessandro Bastoni scored his second consecutive goal for the Italian national team, taking Italy to a draw against France at home, after already finding the net against Turkey and once again showing his ability to influence the outcome.

In the first half Italy knew the match would be tough, while France dominated possession. Nevertheless, the Azzurri fought and created the best chances in the first half. “We believed because even though they had more possession, we had the better chances in the first half,” Bastoni said.

The defender admitted he did not expect two goals in the match, but reiterated that he has never lost confidence in himself. “I didn’t expect two goals, but I have never lost confidence in myself,” he added, emphasizing his determination.

Bastoni decides the draw

The decisive goal came from an individual action: Bastoni floated the ball to Da Cunha at the edge of the Bleus' area, beating goalkeeper Maignan to seal the 1-1 draw. The shot was recorded as GOAL and brought Italy level with France.

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Alessandro then emphasized that his career, spanning more than 300 matches, cannot be ruined by one or two negative episodes. “My family has always believed in me and I have moved beyond the bad episodes,” he stated, highlighting his resilience.

At the end of the match Bastoni went to the Rai microphones to comment on the team’s performance. “It was a tough match, we knew it and it’s not new. But I’m happy with the team’s performance: we fought, suffered, perhaps even ruined France’s objective,” he said.

Looking to the future

The defender urged his teammates to keep their heads down and focus on the next challenge. “Head down, there’s another important match: keep moving forward, we don’t listen to praise or criticism,” he concluded, indicating that the result against France is only a starting point.

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With more than 300 international caps behind him, Bastoni remains a reference point for Italy, ready to lead the defence in future competitions.