Adrien Rabiot scored twice as France snatched top spot in Group A2 of the UEFA Nations League with a 3-1 victory over Italy at the San Siro.
With both sides’ Nations League quarter-final places already secured, Les Bleus claimed the two-goal win they required to leapfrog the Azzurri at the group summit.
Didier Deschamps’ side broke through after just three minutes when Lucas Digne’s outswinging corner was glanced home by Rabiot.
Digne was involved again as France doubled their lead in the 33rd minute, his delicious 25-yard free-kick bouncing in via a deflection off Italy goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.
The hosts responded to halve the deficit two minutes later with Federico Dimarco crossing for fellow wing-back Andrea Cambiaso to volley home at the far post.
However, France restored their two-goal buffer just after the hour mark. Digne and Rabiot combined once more with the latter heading home another superb set-piece delivery from the former.
Italy pushed for the goal they required to reclaim top spot. Cambiaso flashed a shot wide from distance, while substitute Moise Kean called Mike Maignan into action in stoppage time, but the visitors held out.
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