Italy will face France at the Stade de France in Paris this Friday, with the potential for seven Serie A players to be involved. This match marks Zinedine Zidane’s first home game as head coach of the French national team, following his appointment to replace Didier Deschamps.
Read More
Zidane has called up several Serie A players, including first-time selections for Como players Jean Butez and Lucas Da Cunha. Other Serie A representatives include Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu, Inter midfielder Andy Diouf, and Roma’s Manu Kone and Milan’s Adrien Rabiot.
Maignan, who has established himself as France's first-choice goalkeeper in 2026, is expected to retain his starting position against Italy. Reports suggest that Diouf and Kalulu might start at full-back, although there is speculation that Jules Kounde and Adrien Truffert could be preferred instead.
Kone and Rabiot will be eager to return to the starting lineup after being omitted from the team that faced Belgium on Monday. Da Cunha, who featured against Belgium, might be rested to allow for rotation.
In the attacking lineup, France is likely to deploy a front three of Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele, and Desire Doue, though Kylian Mbappe will not participate as he has returned to Real Madrid.
Italy has made several changes, sending Federico Dimarco, Bryan Cristante, Nicolo Zaniolo, and Giacomo Raspadori back home since the beginning of their training camp.
The available squad for France includes goalkeepers Guillaume Restes (Toulouse), Mike Maignan (Milan), and Jean Butez (Como); defenders Pierre Kalulu (Juventus), Adrien Truffert (Bournemouth), and Joules Kounde (Barcelona); midfielders Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid) and Rayan Cherki (Manchester City); and forwards Ousmane Dembele (PSG) and Michael Olise (Bayern Munich). The expected formation for France in the match is a 4-3-3.