France’s 3-1 defeat to Italy on Friday marked their first home loss to the Azzurri in over 70 years, and the fallout in the dressing room was explosive. France goalkeeper Mike Maignan reportedly delivered a blistering post-match rant aimed at his teammates, leaving captain Kylian Mbappe and vice-captain Antoine Griezmann stunned into silence.
Les Bleus started strong, with Bradley Barcola opening the scoring in the first minute at the Parc des Princes. However, Italy fought back, with Federico Dimarco equalizing before halftime. Second-half goals from Davide Frattesi and Giacomo Raspadori sealed a historic win for the Italians.
According to L’Equipe, Maignan, visibly frustrated, unleashed a fiery two-minute speech, criticizing the team’s lack of commitment and attitude. The AC Milan shot-stopper even suggested that, despite only two Italian players being good enough for France’s starting XI, Italy deserved to win because they simply wanted it more.
The tension in the dressing room was palpable, and none of the senior players, including Mbappe and Griezmann, responded to Maignan’s outburst. After the match, Maignan refused to elaborate on the details of his speech but acknowledged the pain of the defeat.
“It’s a defeat that hurts. We need to recover quickly. What is said in the locker room stays there. We’ll discuss it tomorrow,” Maignan stated, insisting the team would regroup ahead of their next match against Belgium on Monday.
France will now look to bounce back from this humbling loss as they continue their Nations League campaign
France’s 3-1 defeat to Italy marked a significant moment, as it was their first home loss to the Azzurri in over 70 years. The defeat, which took place at the Parc des Princes, saw a strong start from Les Bleus with Bradley Barcola scoring in the opening minute. However, Italy rallied back with Federico Dimarco equalizing before halftime, followed by second-half goals from Davide Frattesi and Giacomo Raspadori that secured a memorable victory for the Italians.
The aftermath of the match reportedly led to an intense scene in the French dressing room. Goalkeeper Mike Maignan, visibly upset by the team’s performance, delivered a heated two-minute speech criticizing his teammates’ lack of commitment and attitude. Maignan’s frustration was evident as he suggested that, despite believing only two Italian players were good enough for France’s starting XI, Italy deserved the win because they displayed more desire and determination.
The outburst reportedly left France captain Kylian Mbappe and vice-captain Antoine Griezmann silent, highlighting the tension within the team. Maignan did not elaborate further on his comments when questioned after the match but acknowledged the pain of the defeat and emphasized the need for the team to recover quickly. He maintained that what was said in the locker room should remain private and indicated that the team would address the issues the following day.
As France prepares to face Belgium on Monday in their next Nations League fixture, they will be looking to regroup and bounce back from this unexpected and humbling defeat.
