Bastoni shines at Saint‑Denis, Italy resists France
In the twilight of the Stade de France, the lights reflect on the Saint‑Denis pitch as Italy faces France. A header from Bastoni breaks the opposing defence, giving the Azzurri their second consecutive goal. The result keeps hope alive of climbing the table.
Key moments of the match
Captain Mancini highlighted the team's ability to suffer, defend and attack, describing the performance as “a difficult game”. Goalkeeper Donnarumma was called “stunning” for the decisive saves, especially in critical moments.
Olise performed a feat from a free kick, beating Donnarumma with a precise shot. Bastoni, after stealing the ball from Da Cunha, got past Maignan on the break, completing the net for the Azzurri.
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With the result, Italy remains third in the standings with four points, above the play‑offs, also thanks to Belgium's win over Turkey. The next commitment is Monday in Bologna against Turkey, a match that could close the September‑October window at second place.
Mancini applauded his side's performance, stating that “results change opinions”. Bastoni, proud of his goal, asked for “great balance and calm in judgments” to build a recognizable Italy.