Italy have succumbed to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of France in Thursday night's international friendly at the San Nicola Stadium.
The visitors took the lead just after the quarter-hour mark as Anthony Martial made the most of a misjudged ball through the Azzurri backline to drill home.
Despite Graziano Pelle's equaliser four minutes later, Olivier Giroud was able to volley Les Bleus back in front in the 28th minute after springing the offside trap.
Didier Deschamps's charges then made sure of the win late on when Layvin Kurzawa caught debutant Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma out with a snap shot from a tight angle.
Here is how Sports Mole covered the action in Bari.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the international friendly between Italy and France at the San Nicola Stadium in Bari.
Tonight's fixture will see the beginning of the Giampiero Ventura era for the Azzurri, as the former Bari coach takes up the helm of the national side on familiar territory following the departure of Antonio Conte.
Without further ado, here are the teams...
ITALY: Buffon, Barzagli, Astori, Chiellini, Candreva, Parolo, De Rossi, Bonaventura, De Sciglio, Pelle, Eder
FRANCE: Mandanda, Sidibe, Varane, Koscielny, Kurzawa, Pogba, Matuidi, Payet, Griezmann, Martial, Giroud
Despite Ventura saying he would be looking to implement a 4-2-4 formation in future, he had little time to prepare for tonight's friendly, so he continues with the 3-5-2 utilised by Conte.
So Italy have Buffon in goal behind a back three of Barzagli, Astori and Chiellini, while Candreva and De Sciglio will operate as wing-backs either side of Parolo and Bonaventura, with De Rossi in the centre, and up front will be Pelle and Eder.
Ventura had said: "The 4-2-4 can be the future for the Nazionale, as if interpreted well, it can give results and also make the development of moves more pleasing to watch. However, I had three days to prepare for the France game, so it was unthinkable to transform the tactics in three days." So it is no surprise that it appears to be a continuation from the Euro 2016 setup.
France boss Didier Deschamps, meanwhile, lines up in a 4-3-3 formation whereby Sidibe, Koscielny, Varane e Kurzawa make up the back four ahead of Mandanda, while Kante is the midfield anchor with Pogba and Matuidi, and up front is an attacking trident of Griezmann, Giroud and Martial.
Here is an image of the full team news including substitutes.
#CMdiretta #ItaliaFrancia pic.twitter.com/vIHMzHGZvo — calciomercato.com (@cmdotcom) 1 September 2016
Aside from being the beginning of a new managerial era for one of the world's top footballing nations and a hotly contested clash between two rivals, tonight's game is also significant because it is the first time ever that VAR (Video Assistant Referees) will be tested.
The referee, Bjorn Kuipers, will be in contact with officials in the stands with video replays at their disposal. As it's in the test phase, this won't interrupt the flow of the game.
Italy and France have met a total of 37 times over the years, with 18 Azzurri victories, 10 draws and nine French wins.
The hot atmosphere of the San Nicola could perhaps edge it for the hosts - they have never lost a game in Bari, winning nine and drawing one of their 10 games in the Southern city.
However, Italy have not had a good run of form against the French in recent years, winning just one of their last 11 games, so it will certainly be an open game and very hard to call.
The players are out and lined up on the pitch and the national anthems are blasting out inside the San Nicola.
A hug between Ventura and Deschamps takes place as the Azzurri line up in their white away strip and Les Bleus are clad in blue. The game will get underway after a minute's silence for the victims of the recent earthquake in Italy.
Gianluigi Buffon has now taken the microphone and issued a message of support to the victims of the earthquake, calling on people to donate. Very nice touch from the Azzurri talisman.
KICKOFF! We are now underway in Bari! Here's hoping it's an exciting, open, attacking clash!
CHANCE! Italy win the first corner of the match - Pelle peels off his marker to volley just wide of the near post from 10 yards! Promising early chance from the hosts.
BOOKING: De Rossi is brought down by a very hefty Sidibe challenge - appeared to be studs up on his calf! The Frenchman gets booked by the ref just three minutes into his debut.
Candreva now goes to ground under a challenge by Kurzawa which, in all honesty, looked like a dive. The Italian takes the free kick himself, which ricochets inside the box, but play is stopped for a foul and France can clear.
Griezmann surges forward with a dribble, but it's cut out just before he makes it into the Italy box. Open and fiery game so far.
France are enjoying a prolonged period of possession, but Italy's defence remains tidy and compact.
It really is end to end stuff here as Griezmann sees his shot deflected into the air, and Matuidi tries to get on the end of it, but he is held off. Buffon comes out to grab the next cross.
Some nice interplay between Eder and Pelle leads to a corner but Mandanda is able to come out and claim the ball.
GOAL! ITALY 0-1 FRANCE (ANTHONY MARTIAL)
Italy find themselves a goal down after a calamitous error by one of their most experienced defenders. Chiellini allowed a pass through, Barzagli wasn't expecting him to do that and Martial sprinted on to the ball, placing an angled drive past Buffon one-on-one. First blood Les Bleus.
GOAL! ITALY 1-1 FRANCE (GRAZIANO PELLE)
Italy looked shorn of confidence after conceding but they now find themselves level just four minutes later! Eder got the better of Kante and slipping the ball to Pelle who, with his back to goal, swivelled and fired into the bottom corner - Mandanda was rooted to the spot!
France look to counter quickly and maraud forward, but Parolo sprints back and blocks Matuidi's shot inside the box.
Candreva sends a cross into the box which brushes across Eder's chest, and it's danger for France as Sidibe's wayward clearance has to be blocked by Mandanda.
GOAL! ITALY 1-2 FRANCE (OLIVIER GIROUD)
Deschamps's charges are back in front as a corner is poorly cleared, allowing a ball to spring the offside trap and allow Giroud to instinctively volley past the helpless Buffon! Ventura is not happy at all - that's two defensive lapses by his team.
Now it's Italy who are looking to claw back into contention as they win a succession of corners, but there is some controversy as a De Rossi header charged down and everyone shouts for handball. Not given though.
Pelle and Eder combine well again, the former expertly chesting down for the latter, who rushes his moves and shanks the ball over the bar.
Barzagli chips a ball over the top for Eder, who tries to chest it down, but is barged out of the way by Varane and is sent head first into the advertising board!
CHANCE! De Rossi plays in Candreva, who is in space on the right, but he drags his shot wide of the far post. The Roma man should really have gone for it.
Italy keep pouring men forward and carving out chances, with Candreva playing a ball which is just too deep for Eder, while Varane is well placed to get the ball away from Pelle.
Now Chiellini comes forward and tries to get a ball over to Eder, but it's too heavy and Mandanda can claim.
CHANCE! Italy come close once again as a cross from Candreva just evades Pelle's head - Eder manages to put it back in, but nobody can get the final touch!
HALF TIME: ITALY 1-2 FRANCE
At the halfway point in this game, Italy find themselves 2-1 down against France, courtesy of goals from Anthony Martial and Olivier Giroud either side of Graziano Pelle's strike.
New Azzurri head coach Giampiero Ventura will not be happy with how his defence conceded those goals - the first was an uncharacteristic error from Giorgio Chiellini, letting a pass through that Martial was only too eager to finish off, while the second was the result of a poorly cleared corner and a beating of the offside trap.
It's been an even game from both sides, with France making the most of those errors and keeping things simple to be ahead at the break, but Italy were strong in the latter stages of the first half and it will be interesting to see how this game pans out - I predict two or three more goals in this.
Here are the stats from the first half.
Italy 1-2 France HT: Shots(OT) 8(1) - 5(2), Possession 56% - 44%, Rating 6.27 - 6.65 https://t.co/wJBtEvabeI #ITAFRA — WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) 1 September 2016
The players are still in the changing rooms - a number of changes are expected from both sides.
KICKOFF: We're back underway at the San Nicola.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Big news for Italy as 17-year-old goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma comes on for his senior Italy debut in place of the veteran Gianluigi Buffon - he is the youngest ever Azzurri goalkeeper and the youngest player in an Italy jersey since 1911!
SUBSTITUTIONS: Other changes for Italy involve Rugani coming on for Barzagli and Montolivo replacing De Rossi, while France see Payet taking the place of Martial and Gignac in for Giroud.
To put it into perspective, when Buffon made his Italy debut, Donnarumma was not yet alive - he was born 16 months later.
France come forward and Kurzawa sends a cross into the box from the left, but Chiellini is on hand to head clear.
Now it's Italy's turn to attack and Candreva skilfully nutmegs Kurzawa, but there's nobody in the box to take advantage.
Risky times for Italy as they continue to flounder at the back, but Gignac panics and fires wide from distance.
Candreva tracks back to get the ball off Kurzawa in the Italy box - it comes back to Griezmann, who tries to lob Donnarumma, but he misses.
SUBSTITUTION: Another change for the hosts as De Sciglio comes off and Florenzi takes his place.
CHANCE! Montolivo almost catches Mandanda out with a shot from distance, but the goalkeeper scrambles down and keeps the ball out.
Donnarumma makes his first save, smothering a low Payet drive from distance that bounced in front of him - cue applause from the home crowd.
Mandanda does well to intercept a Bonaventura ball that went past Pelle, with Parolo lurking nearby just waiting to tap in.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Two for France as Sissoko and Dembele come on, with Griezmann and Matuidi coming off.
SUBSTITUTION: Ventura makes a switch as Verratti is on to take the place of Bonaventura, with Parolo moving over to the left to accomodate him.
Another somewhat sloppy and unorthodox save from Mandanda as Florenzi swings a corner in, but it does the job.
CHANCE! Candreva powers forward yet again and sends a cross in, Pelle connects in the middle of the box but the ball soars over!
Florenzi is caught out as he tries to latch onto Eder's ball, the offside flag goes up and the move is thwarted.
SUBSTITUTION: Debutant Andrea Belotti, who has scored five goals in two Serie A games for Torino this season - and that's with two penalties saved - comes on for Eder.
CHANCE! Donnarumma gets his hands on the ball again to bravely save from Gignac's feet after Payet's pinpoint low cross.
Verratti sends a probing ball over the top in search of Parolo, but the Lazio midfielder is unable to latch on to the ball.
GOAL! ITALY 1-3 FRANCE (LAYVIN KURZAWA)
That's pretty much game over as France grab a third goal - Pogba cuts the defence open with a through ball for Kurzawa on the left side of the box, who then catches Donnarumma out by firing past him and into the net from a tight angle.
SUBSTITUTION: Koscielny's time on the pitch tonight is up as he is replaced by Umtiti.
Belotti concedes a free kick in a dangerous position after he is deemed to have handled Umtiti's shot - Pogba takes but it deflects off the wall and Donnarumma is able to claim.
Wew will have three minutes of stoppage time here at the San Nicola.
BOOKING: Belotti barges Sissoko and earns a yellow for his troubles. Moments later a substitution takes place as Digne comes on for the impressive Kurzawa.
FULL TIME: ITALY 1-3 FRANCE
Giampiero Ventura's first game in charge of Italy ends in a 3-1 defeat on home soil at the hands of France.
There will be plenty to do behind the scenes at Azzurri HQ as they were let down by a number of errors in defence and, in the case of the final goal, in between the sticks, with France clinical in attack and composed at the back to claim a morale-boosting win over one of their biggest rivals.
Well, that is all we've got time for here at the San Nicola, but thank you for being part of this with us at Sports Mole - stay tuned for the match report from Bari and don't forget to look around the website for all the latest reports from the other international friendlies of the day! Bye bye and take care!
Written by
Giuseppe Labellarte
Giuseppe Labellarte
