Italy players applauded the French national anthem at San Siro after a section of the home supporters booed La Marseillaise ahead of their Nations League match.
The incident occurred prior to kickoff in Milan, where visiting Les Bleus faced a hostile reception from a portion of the local crowd. Rather than standing silent, members of the Italian squad and coaching staff joined together to clap for the French anthem in an apparent gesture of sportsmanship.
During that previous fixture, home supporters similarly jeered the French anthem, prompting the Italian players to respond with public applause while visiting fans later returned the gesture during Il Canto degli Italiani.
Despite the tense atmosphere before kickoff, Italy secured a 2-1 victory over France on the pitch. The result added a surprising twist to the fixture after the pre-match friction in northern Italy.
San Siro Crowd Reaction
San Siro has witnessed similar friction in past fixtures between the two European powerhouses.
The Italian internationals acted swiftly to diffuse the tension on the field. Captains and veteran squad members led the visible show of respect toward the visiting players lined up on the pitch.
Previous Encounters in Milan
On that occasion, French supporters also whistled through the Italian national anthem in a reciprocal display of hostility.
Italy Beat France 2-1 in Milan
La Squadra Azzurra translated their pre-match composure into a disciplined performance on the grass. The 2-1 victory over France handed the visitors a tough defeat in front of a capacity crowd in Milan.
Tactical changes implemented by the Italian coaching staff paid off during the second half as the hosts capitalized on defensive errors by Les Bleus.
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