France thrash Italy 3-1 in World Cup friendly

Samuel Umtiti set the hosts on their way after Kylian Mbappe’s effort was parried by the Italian goalkeeper, Salvatore Sirigu.

The French doubled their lead when Antoine Griezmann converted a penalty after Lucas Hernandez had been fouled.

Leonardo Bonucci reduced the arrears for Italy but Ousmane Dembele’s chip rounded off a fine French display, BBC reports.

France beat the Republic of Ireland 2-0 on Monday.

France have now won five and drawn one of the six games played between the two nations since Italy – who have failed to qualify for Russia – defeated them on penalties to win the World Cup final in 2006.

While this was far from the level of that high stakes encounter in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium, it did nevertheless prove a worthwhile exercise for France manager Didier Deschamps.

With seven changes from the team that defeated the Republic of Ireland, Deschamps appeared to utilise the midfield and forward combinations to be deployed in France’s World Cup opener against Australia on 16 June.

Mbappe in particular sparkled in a fluent up-tempo display alongside Dembele and Griezmann and was given a standing ovation when he was replaced by Florian Thauvin late on.

The pace, power and guile of that trio often left the Italian defence bewildered and the margin of victory might have been wider, with Dembele and N’Golo Kante both hitting the woodwork for France.

Deschamps’ side play their final pre-tournament friendly against the United States on 9 June before facing Australia in their World Cup opener a week later.

Les Blues also face Peru on 21 June and Denmark on 26 June in Group C.