France Falls 3-1 to Italy at San Siro
French media criticised Chelsea defender Malo Gusto's performance after the Nations League defeat in Milan.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Soccer
France lost 3-1 to Italy at San Siro on Thursday in the UEFA Nations League. Chelsea defender Malo Gusto received low performance ratings from French media after the match.
Why it matters
The defeat and the criticism directed at Gusto's positioning in both Italian goals have drawn attention to France's defensive play. Individual ratings from several outlets show a wide spread of opinion on his display.
Gusto won two of six duels, lost possession eight times and committed three fouls, according to 433Foot's statistics. Ratings from four outlets ranged from 1/10 to 4/10, though the extraction does not include a full squad-wide comparison.
The players
Malo Gusto
Gusto is a French defender who plays for Chelsea in the Premier League and was the focus of the post-match criticism.
Nicolo Cambiaghi
Cambiaghi is an Italian forward who was involved in both the equaliser and the penalty won against France.
The details
Nicolo Cambiaghi repeatedly got the better of Gusto in the build-up to Italy's equaliser, and Gusto then brought him down inside the area, resulting in a penalty. Gusto was also criticised for his positioning in the lead-up to Italy's second goal.
Timeline
Thursday evening: France lost 3-1 to Italy at San Siro (12 November 2026).
Season Trajectory
Defeats in the Nations League carry limited weight in the standings, yet individual performances in these fixtures often shape squad selection debates ahead of major tournaments. The divergence in ratings for Gusto reflects how French media judgements on defenders can shift sharply after a single match.
The ratings disagreement means fantasy managers and fans tracking Gusto will see conflicting assessments of his form. Fans following France's Nations League campaign can expect the defensive questions raised by the Italy match to remain a talking point.
The takeaway
The Italy defeat highlights how a defender's positioning in build-up play can decide a match. Readers tracking the squad should watch how the coaching staff responds to the criticism in upcoming fixtures.
Further reading
For more on the teams and tournaments behind this result, see Soccer.
