Romania, with veteran Mircea Lucescu back in charge, won 3-0 in Kosovo in Group C2.
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Sports
Italy Defeat France, Belgium Triumph, As Wales Held To A Draw In Nations League
Bradley Barcola made history by scoring the fastest goal ever by a France player at the Parc des Princes, but the home team failed to capitalize on their explosive start. Italy responded strongly, with Federico Dimarco, Davide Frattesi, and Giacomo Raspadori all finding the net to seal a well-deserved win.
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This result provides a much-needed boost for Luciano Spalletti’s Italy, following their disappointing performance at Euro 2024, where their title defence ended prematurely in the last 16 against Switzerland.
“Italians love football and they have been very sad recently,” Spalletti said.
“I am happy tonight because we are relieved to see a better performance.
“Now we can continue on this road because we saw how much potential we have.”
France, for whom captain Kylian Mbappe struggled to make an impact, picked up where they left off at the Euros, when they never found their best form despite reaching the semi-finals.
“It hurts for all of us,” admitted their coach, Didier Deschamps.
He handed a full international debut to London-born Bayern Munich right-winger Michael Olise, but it was Barcola who stole the spotlight.
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The Paris Saint-Germain winger intercepted Italy’s Giovanni Di Lorenzo, sprinted through, and scored, setting a new record for the fastest French goal, surpassing Bernard Lacombe’s 38-second strike against Italy in the 1978 World Cup.
– Haaland Held in Check –
Italy responded to an early setback when Frattesi hit the crossbar, but they equalized on the half-hour mark with a stunning goal. Dimarco received a pass from Sandro Tonali and volleyed it into the far corner.
Frattesi then converted a Mateo Retegui cross early in the second half to put Italy ahead, and substitute Raspadori added a third goal in the 74th minute.
Italy’s winning start in this Nations League edition leaves them tied at the top of Group A2 with Belgium, who also secured a 3-1 victory over Israel on Friday. Kevin De Bruyne scored twice for Belgium, including a penalty, alongside a goal from Youri Tielemans and an own goal by Timothy Castagne. The match was held in Hungary due to security concerns in Belgium.
Italy will face Israel next on Monday in Budapest, given the ongoing security situation in the Middle East. Meanwhile, France will take on Belgium in Lyon.
In other Friday action, new Wales coach Craig Bellamy saw his side play to a 0-0 draw with Turkey in Cardiff in Group 4 of League B. Turkey managed to secure a point despite Baris Yilmaz being sent off in the second half.
“I am not a master at this after one game, trust me. But I enjoyed it. It was a great country to play against in your first game and I am really happy,” Bellamy told the BBC.
Wales next go to Montenegro, who lost 2-0 in Iceland on Friday.
Erling Haaland drew a blank as Norway were held to a 0-0 draw on their long trip to Kazakhstan in Group B3, while Benjamin Sesko scored a penalty in Slovenia’s 1-1 draw with Austria in the same section.
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