Lucas Digne is France's unlikely hero! Aston Villa star steps up to inspire Les Bleus to victory against Italy in Kylian Mbappe's absence

France and Italy entered their final Nations League A Group 2 clash knowing that they had already secured their place in the two-legged quarter-final of the tournament set to be played in March. However, both sides knew top spot was still up for grabs. While Italy entered the clash with a three-point lead over France, Didier Deschamps' men knew that a two-goal win at San Siro would see them finish first.

France made a perfect start as Adrien Rabiot scored in the second minute of the game after heading Lucas Digne's corner past Guglielmo Vicario. Despite the shaky start, Italy soon started to attempt to control the game, however, France's heavy press meant Gli Azzurri were unable to do so.

After a scruffy 30 minutes of play, Christopher Nkunku was brought down by Davide Frattesi outside the Italy box, which prompted France to have their first real attack since Rabiot's goal. Digne stepped up and struck an almost perfect free-kick which hit the underside of Vicario's goalpost, ricocheted into the Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper's back and then pinged into the net to give the visitors a two-goal lead.

However, the healthy advantage didn't last too long as Dimarco and Sandro Tonali combined. The former let in a perfect cross from the by-line which just went over the head of Frattesi but was met by Andrea Cambiaso, who perfectly slotted a volley past Mike Maignan. What followed was a barrage of Italian attacks, however, Luciano Spalletti's men failed to equalize before the half-time whistle.

And in the second half it was yet another set-piece situation that broke Italy down yet again. Digne and Rabiot recreated a similar move as they had in the second minute of the clash as the defender's pinpoint cross was able to find the Marseille midfielder, who headed the ball past a stranded Vicario.

The game was then a case of Italy going gung-ho at Maignan's goal as Gli Azzurri knew that reducing their goal difference would mean Italy could take the top spot, however, it wasn't to be as France's 3-1 win was enough for them to finish first.

Deschamps has Digne to thank for the victory over Italy. The Villa star racked up two assists and was very solid defensively against Frattesi and Cambiaso. The Aston Villa left-back has been in top form for Unai Emery's side as well this season and was given a run out at left-back for Les Bleus ahead of Theo Hernandez. The former Barcelona and Everton star may now have put some pressure on Deschamps to consider him as a potential number one for the left-back spot.

Italy's set-piece coaches will need to have a long hard look at the set-up Gli Azzurri use when defending dead-ball situations. The last six goals that Spalletti's team has given up, including all three against France tonight at San Siro, have come from set pieces. Spalletti will need to work out a way to iron out such a big flaw in his team before they take on their quarter-final clash in March.

Italy and France will now have to wait until November 22 to figure out who they will face off against next in the quarter-final of the Nations League. Thanks to their group win, France will play at Stade de France in the second leg. Meanwhile, Italy will have to play at San Siro in the first leg as they finished as runners-up.