Related items

• Spalletti sees new intensity in Italy's play as France stunned

  Luciano Spalletti said Italy had shown a new level of intensity in their Nations League opener after they stunned France with a 3-1 comeback win at the Parc des Princes.

  Italy found themselves a goal down inside 12 seconds on Friday as Bradley Barcola dispossessed Giovanni Di Lorenzo before finishing coolly, but Federico Dimarco's brilliant volleyed equaliser precipitated a stirring fightback.

  Davide Frattesi put the Azzurri ahead early in the second half, then Giacomo Raspadori completed the scoring as Italy claimed their first-ever win at the Parc des Princes.

  The Azzurri had previously drawn three and lost one of their four matches at the venue, only scoring two goals, while they had not beaten France since doing so in the group stage at Euro 2008.

  Italy endured a dismal Euro 2024 campaign, scraping through their group before being dumped out by Switzerland in the last 16, but Spalletti saw a different side to his players on Friday.

  "I saw an intensity during training that we didn't have last time," Spalletti said. "Perhaps the players' physical shape had a role. 

  "The season has just started, and there is new enthusiasm. The other time, it was the end [of the season], and there had been things that perhaps led some to switch off. 

  "They bounced back tonight. Regardless of how this game went, we would have continued playing forever.

  "It's in the DNA of this group I've chosen for the Nations League and the World Cup qualifiers.

  "Three, four or five players have stayed home this time, but generally we are convinced that this group can give us so much."

  Italy's victory was marred somewhat by Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori being injured by a crunching tackle by Ousmane Dembele, with the former Bologna man writing in pain before being helped from the field.

  Spalletti, however, is hopeful the injury may not prove to be a serious one.

  "We need to assess Riccardo, but with our staff, we have a good chance to have him back with us for the next game," Spalletti said.

  Italy face Israel in their next match in Group A2 on Monday, with France hosting Belgium in another heavyweight tussle on the same day.

• St Lucia, St Maarten, Grenada, Haiti register contrasting League B wins

  St Lucia, St Maarten, Grenada, and Haiti all opened their 2024/25 Concacaf Nations League accounts with victories in League B on Friday.

  Grenada blanked St Martin 2-0, and St Lucia edged Curacao 2-1 in the Group B double-header at Kirani James Athletics Stadium.

  Over in Group C, Haiti were 4-1 winners over Puerto Rico, and St Maarten blanked Aruba 2-0 at Estadio Centroamericano in Puerto Rico.

  St Lucia vs. Curaçao 

  In what was the first-ever Nations League encounter between the two nations, St Lucia were the better team on the day.

  Arkell Jude-Boyd broke the deadlock for St Lucia in the 24th when he fended off a defender on his way to poking an effort through the legs of Eloy Room in goal for Curacao to make it 1-0 at the break.

  Jude-Boyd went close to extending the lead in the second half, but Room came up big for Curacao on that occasion.

  However, St Lucia inevitably doubled the lead in the 55th through Caniggia Elva, who finished off a loose ball.

  Curacao pulled one back in the 63rd when Joshua Brenet fired home from Leandro Bacuna’s pass.

  St Maarten vs. Aruba

  St Maarten and Aruba failed to separate themselves for most of the contest, as their respective goalkeepers Tyrell Richardson and Matthew Lentink were in good knick between the sticks.

  It wasn’t until the 81st that Gerwin Lake broke the deadlock for St Maarten when he rifled an effort past Lentink, who had no chance at a save on that occasion.

  Ronan Olivacce added a second for St Maarten in the 90+3, with an easy tap-in from Chovanie Amatkarijo’s pass.

  St Martin vs. Grenada 

  Grenada were always favoured to secure the three points and that they did.

  It took them only five minutes to open the scoring as Lucas Akins capitalised on a defensive error.

  The menacing Regan Charles-Cook made the points safe when he tucked home from close range in the 38th minute.

  St Martin tried to stay in the contest but found Grenada’s defence and goalkeeper Chad Phillip in defiant mode.

  Puerto Rico vs. Haiti

  After being relegated from League A, Haiti is intent of getting back to the top and they demonstrated that with a comfortable beating of Puerto Rico.

  Interestingly, it was Puerto Rico that struck first in the 29th when Gerald Diaz fired home from a rebound.

  Haiti responded with a second half flurry, which was started by Danley Jean Jacques in the 51st.

  Frantzdy Pierrot added a second in the 60th, taking his Nations League tally to eight goals, before Don Louicius finished off a tidy team build up in the 76th to put Haiti 3-1 up.

  Duckens Nazon then capped the win with an 83rd-minute strike to put Haiti on course for promotion.

• Kane inspired by Messi and Ronaldo as England enter new era

  Harry Kane is drawing inspiration from the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as he prepares to lead England into a new era.

  Kane has captained England to two European Championship finals only to finish on the losing side on both occasions, versus Italy in a penalty shoot-out at Euro 2020 and against Spain earlier this year.

  The Bayern Munich striker failed to hit top form at Euro 2024 in Germany and was substituted early in both the final and in a 2-1 semi-final victory over the Netherlands.

  Kane scored twice from open play at the tournament – in a group-stage draw with Denmark and an extra-time victory over Slovakia in the last 16 – but was criticised for a series of lethargic displays. 

  However, the 31-year-old remains committed to the Three Lions as they enter the post-Gareth Southgate era and hopes to continue representing his country for many more years.

  "It's tough whenever you get so close to reaching one of the pinnacles of your career and it's taken away," Kane told BBC Radio 5 Live.

  "It makes me even more motivated. It puts the fire in the belly to try and get there. Our task is to get better.

  "I think when you look at players like Ronaldo, [Luka] Modric and Messi, all these players who are playing in their mid to late 30s, that's the inspiration for me because it shows that you can really play at a high level for a long time.

   

  "I want to play football for as long as possible and at the highest level for as long as possible. I use those players for motivation and inspiration to be able to do that.

  "I feel I am in a really good place both mentally and physically to have another great season, hopefully that continues for many years to come."

  England face the Republic of Ireland in their first game since Southgate's departure on Saturday, with former under-21 boss Lee Carsley in interim charge.

  Kane admits it was strange to return to the Three Lions camp without their long-serving former boss, under whom he netted 61 goals, the most ever scored by any England player under a single manager. 

  "It felt a little bit strange when we first came into camp," Kane said. "The boss has his own ideas and identity. 

  "We did a lot of good things with Gareth but ultimately the new coach has fresh ideas. It's been good. There are a lot of young players excited to be here and express themselves."