France hosts Italy at the Stade de France in Paris on Friday, Oct. 2. Kickoff is at 8:45 p.m. CET local time in France. That makes it a 2:45 p.m. ET or 11:45 a.m. PT kickoff in the US and Canada, a 7:45 p.m. BST start in the UK and a 4:45 a.m. AEST kickoff on Saturday morning in Australia. The game will air on FS1, which you can stream free on DIRECTV. Today’s game is on Fox Sports 1.
Zinedine Zidane will look to maintain his perfect start as France’s new head coach on Friday. Les Bleus host an Italy team looking to build on an impressive win at the start of the week in this tantalizing UEFA Nations League fixture. France kicked off the Zidane era with a narrow 1-0 win over Türkiye, thanks to a Kylian Mbappé strike. That was followed up by another 1-0 win over neighboring Belgium on Monday via a stunning piece of individual brilliance from Michael Olise.
France and Italy renew one of international soccer’s oldest rivalries when they meet in UEFA Nations League play, with both sides chasing position atop a tightly contested group. France enters the match behind an attack that has been among Europe’s most productive over the past year. Kylian Mbappé remains the focal point after another prolific season at club level, while France has continued to generate chances through Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise on the wings. Les Bleus averaged more than two goals per match in competitive fixtures during their most recent international cycle and have lost only once in their last several Nations League outings.
Italy has relied on organization and defensive discipline under Luciano Spalletti. The Azzurri conceded fewer than a goal per game through much of their recent competitive schedule and have been difficult to break down when playing against elite opposition. Midfielder Nicolò Barella remains the team’s engine, while striker Giacomo Raspadori has emerged as one of Italy’s most consistent scoring threats.
Recent meetings between the sides have produced goals. France earned a 3-1 victory when the teams last met in Paris, while Italy answered with a 3-1 win in the return fixture, highlighting the narrow gap between the European powers. The matchup could be decided in transition. France’s pace and attacking depth will test Italy’s compact back line, while the Azzurri will look to control possession and limit the space available to Mbappé in open field.
DIRECTV (free trial) and FuboTV (free trial) both offer FS1 for almost the exact same price. Fubo’s “Pro” package costs $88.99, while DIRECTV’s “Entertainment” package is $89.99. Both options offer a free trial and money off the first month of subscription. Your free trial will start once you create an account.
If you don’t have the channel in your cable lineup, there are several alternatives. All the major live TV streaming services carry Fox Sports 1. You can also stream games broadcast on Fox with the Fox One streaming app. Fox’s direct-to-consumer streaming service costs $20 a month or $200 a year and gives you access to Fox’s complete TV portfolio, including sports-related channels such as Fox Sports, B1G, FS1, FS2 and local Fox stations.
