France beat Italy as video replays are used for the first time
Anthony Martial and Oliver Giroud found the net as France beat Italy 3-1, as “football history” was made, after video replays were used for the first time in an international match.
Paul Pogba, the world’s most expensive player, provided the assists for two of the goals for France. The first goal came at 17 minutes after Martial collected Pogba’s through ball, and easily scored past the Italy goalkeeper. Graziano Pelle equalized for the hosts four minutes later.
Arsenal striker Giroud restored France’s lead inside the half hour mark after Giorgio Chiellini’s mistake. And full-back Layvin Kurzawa sealed the game for Les Blues in the second half, scoring from a tight angle. It was a comfortable win for France in their first game since their heartbreaking defeat in the Euro 2016 final.
But despite defeat, it was a historic game for new Italian football. Gianluigi Donnarumma, who is often considered as Gianluigi Buffon’s longtime heir replaced him at half-time. And at the mere age of 17, Donnarumma became the youngest goalkeeper to ever play for the Azzurri. The AC Milan teenager was born 484 days after Buffon made his Italy debut in 1997.
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The game was also used as a test of video assistance for referees, and video was used for the first time, as the Italians appealed for a penalty after a handball in the box. The referee stopped the game, as replays were consulted and they decided not to award a penalty.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino hopes to use the technology in the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and after the game, Infantino lauded the technology, and said that “Football History” had been made.
Both sides will now shift focus to qualifying for the 2018 World Cup. Italy visit Israel for their first game of the qualifying round, while France will face Belarus a day later.
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