Rabiot is France captain for first time at San Siro against Italy

Rabiot is France captain for first time at San Siro against Italy Milan midfielder Adrien Rabiot makes history this evening, as he wears the France captain’s armband for the first time against Italy in the Nations League. It kicks off at San Siro in Milan at 19.45 GMT (20.45 CET). You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog. PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JULY 04: Adrien Rabiot #14 of France arrives at the stadium before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Paraguay and France at Philadelphia Stadium on July 04, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) This is a head-to-head for the top of Group A1, where Les Bleus are on 10 points, followed by Italy on seven, while Belgium climbed to nine after the early kick-off when they came back to beat Turkiye 2-1. The top two teams go into the quarter-finals of the Nations League, so it is all to play for ahead of the final Italian trip to Brussels on Sunday. Rabiot is new France captain MILAN – NOVEMBER 12: An LED board shows the fixture on a screen before the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Italy and France at San Siro Stadium on November 12, 2026 in Milan (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images) France have an injury crisis on their hands, which has also forced the captain’s armband to drop down the list of alternatives. Kylian Mbappé usually has the honour, but he is out of action, along with vice-captains Ousmane Dembélé and Jules Koundé. PARIS, FRANCE – MARCH 23: Adrian Rabiot of France looks on before the UEFA Nations League Quarterfinal Leg Two match between Croatia and France at Stade de France on March 23, 2025 in Paris, France. (Photo by Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images) Rabiot therefore gets to be France captain for the first time in his career , and he does it at his ‘home’ stadium of San Siro, where he currently represents Milan. He is not the only familiar face this evening, as his Milan teammate Mike Maignan also starts with Como midfielder Lucas Da Cunha. Inter winger Andy Diouf is also on the Bleus bench.