Mancini: Italy's Draw with France a "Step Forward"

Italy secured a point against France in Saint-Denis, coming from behind to draw 1-1 in the UEFA Nations League. Coach Roberto Mancini described the performance as a significant "step forward" for the team.

Following a 4-1 victory over Turkey, Mancini's side delivered another strong display against a more experienced French team at the Stade de France. Despite missing an early chance through Moise Kean, Italy fell behind when Michael Olise scored with a free-kick 10 minutes into the second half.

Alessandro Bastoni equalized for the Azzurri, capitalizing on a defensive error by Lucas Da Cunha to score his second goal in as many games. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made several crucial saves to keep Italy in the match. Although France's Dayot Upamecano was sent off late in the game, Italy couldn't find a winner and may feel they missed an opportunity.

Mancini expressed satisfaction with the team's effort. "We knew it would be a very difficult match, but we did well to limit their chances, even with their greater possession," he told Rai Sport. "We played as a unit, attacking and defending together. It's a very positive evening."

He added, "I wanted this to be another step forward. I liked that we tried to play football against an extraordinary France team full of champions. We struggled at times but always looked to score when we had the opportunity, which is very good."

Bastoni: Italy Can Compete with Anyone

Alessandro Bastoni believes the performance against France should instill confidence in Italy's ability to challenge any opponent, despite their recent failure to qualify for the World Cup.

"It was a tough game, as expected, but I'm very happy with the team's performance," Bastoni stated to Rai. "We fought hard, we suffered, and we disrupted France's plans for a celebration. We knew it wouldn't be easy, and it wasn't."

"Scoring again is pleasing, but my immediate thought was to prevent them from scoring again. This is a good result that boosts our confidence going forward."

Bastoni reflected on his own form, saying, "I didn't expect to score twice, but I never lost faith in myself. I won't let a few situations define my career of over 300 games. I thank my family for their support and hope my resilience is seen positively."

"We believed in our chances from the start and had the best opportunities in the first half. This performance against France in Paris sends a strong signal: if we can play like this here, we can do it against anyone."

"We have another game coming up, and we're not taking anything for granted. It's another important test."

Italy will face Turkey in Bologna on Monday in their final match of this international break.