France is set to compete in the UEFA Nations League, taking on Italy for the first time since their semi-final defeat to Spain in this year's European Championships. This match is undoubtedly the most eagerly awaited encounter on the opening match day. France aims to recover from their 2-1 loss to Spain in the Euro 2024 semi-finals, while Italy seeks to bounce back after being eliminated in the round of 16 by Switzerland, losing 2-0. In their Euro 2024 opener, France secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Austria but then faced two consecutive draws, finishing 0-0 against the Netherlands and 1-1 against Poland. They rebounded with wins over Belgium and Portugal, advancing to the semi-finals, only to be edged out by Spain in a thrilling 2-1 match. Italy had a challenging time in their Euro 2024 group, managing only a 2-1 win against Albania, followed by a 1-0 loss to Spain and a vital 1-1 draw with Croatia. Their journey ended in the round of 16 with a 2-0 defeat to Switzerland. France is favored to win this match against Italy, having lost only three times in their last 20 international fixtures across all competitions. Entering this match, France is brimming with confidence, having maintained a solid form prior to their Euro 2024 exit, going unbeaten in eight matches before facing Spain. At home, France has been particularly strong, remaining unbeaten in their last five international matches, recording three victories and two draws. In contrast, Italy has not won any of their last six international away matches. Considering recent form and past encounters, a 2-1 victory for France is anticipated, as they have not lost to Italy in their last three meetings. Additionally, we expect more than 2.5 goals to be scored, as this has been the case in their last three head-to-head international clashes.