Roberto Mancini, the Italy national team coach, believes his side delivered a perfect performance in their match against France in the UEFA Nations League.
Italy came from behind to draw 1-1 with hosts France on Friday evening, in Matchday 3 of Group 1 in League A of the 2026-2027 UEFA Nations League.
Mancini told reporters after the match: "We knew it would be a very difficult game, especially at the start, which is what happened, but we managed to limit the opponent's threat despite their greater possession of the ball."
He added: "Then we produced a wonderful performance in other phases. It was a really tough match."
Mancini expressed full satisfaction with his players' collective performance, praising their efforts both when in possession and without the ball.
He explained: "Yes, they did everything perfectly as a team, attacking and defending with team spirit; it was a very positive and ideal performance."
The Italy coach also considered the result another step forward in his team's development path, highlighting their determination to keep attacking even when France made things difficult.
He continued: "I wanted this match to be another step towards improvement in our journey. I liked that they tried to play and build attacks despite the difficulty of the situation, because France is an exceptional team brimming with stars and champions."
He concluded: "We succeeded in imposing our style, and when we faced pressure, we endured it and held firm. We always sought to move forward and score goals, trying to win until the last moments—that is football."
