Rayan Cherki played a part in France’s late winner against Belgium on Monday night after coming off the bench in Brussels.
Gianluigi Donnarumma also enjoyed a better second Nations League outing, captaining Italy as they responded to their opening defeat by beating Turkiye 4-1.
Cherki involved in late France winner
Cherki started France’s opening victory over Turkiye but was among nine changes made by Zinedine Zidane for the trip to Belgium.
The Man City midfielder replaced Maghnes Akliouche in the 77th minute with the game still goalless. Eleven minutes later, he was involved in the decisive moment.
Cherki found Michael Olise on the right around halfway before the Bayern Munich midfielder did most of the hard work himself, carrying the ball towards the penalty area and finishing superbly to give France a 1-0 victory.
City credited Cherki with setting up the goal, although Olise’s run and finish were very much the story of it. Cherki has now featured in both of Zidane’s first two games as France manager, starting one and coming off the bench in the other.
Donnarumma wears the armband in Italy win
Donnarumma completed another 90 minutes for Italy in Bursa and again wore the captain’s armband. Roberto Mancini’s side were three goals ahead inside 27 minutes through Alessandro Bastoni, Davide Frattesi and Michael Kayode.
Baris Yilmaz pulled one back for Turkiye shortly after half-time, denying Donnarumma a clean sheet, before Pio Esposito restored Italy’s three-goal advantage three minutes later. The 4-1 victory gave Italy their first points of the Nations League campaign after Friday’s 2-0 home defeat against Belgium.
There is now an obvious City subplot to the next game. France host Italy on Friday night, meaning Cherki and Donnarumma could be on opposite sides at the Stade de France.
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