Italy’s full Nations League schedule is locked in, and get this: they’re getting a rematch against World Cup semi-finalists France right back in San Siro. You know, the stadium where they haven’t won a game in ages after that insane 96-year unbeaten run? Yeah, that one.
Pirlo’s Potential Debut and a Brutal Group A Gauntlet
The Azzurri are gearing up for a tough run in Nations League Group A, squaring off against Belgium, Turkey, and those familiar foes from France. This whole campaign, stretching from September to November, will feature home and away games against every one of them. What’s wild is all this is happening while they’re still figuring out who’s going to be leading the charge, with Andrea Pirlo looking like the frontrunner for head coach after Pep Guardiola apparently passed on the job. Their Nations League journey kicks off at home on September 25, welcoming Belgium to the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, before heading to Turkey just three days later for a match in Bursa.
San Siro’s Shadow: Can Italy Break the Curse Against France?
Talk about high stakes! On October 2, Italy heads to Paris to take on France at the Stade de France. They’ll definitely be hoping for a repeat of their 3-1 victory against France from 2024 where Giacomo Raspadori bagged a goal. But the real headline game is on November 12, when France comes to them in Milan at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, better known as San Siro. This is their final home game of the group stage, and it’s a doozy. Italy used to be practically untouchable there, going 96 years unbeaten. But that streak is history, man. They’ve dropped their last three matches there against Norway, Germany, and most recently, against France in the last Nations League outing. That’s gotta be weighing on them, right? It feels like a genuine curse.
The Road Ahead: Beyond the French Challenge
Before that massive home clash with France, Italy will host Turkey again on October 5 at Bologna’s Dall’Ara stadium. It’s a packed schedule, and every point will count in this group. Their Nations League group stage campaign wraps up with a trip to Brussels on November 15, facing Belgium at the King Baudouin Stadium. Can Pirlo, if he gets the nod, navigate this gauntlet and finally break the San Siro curse? That France rematch in Milan is gonna be absolutely massive for the Azzurri.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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