Pio answering Italy’s goalscoring problem

There are evenings that can mark a before and after in a footballer's career. For Pio Esposito, his match-winning performance for Italy against Zinedine Zidane's France at the San Siro on Thursday evening appears to be that breakthrough moment.

With a brilliant brace, his first in a national-team shirt, the Internazionale striker dragged Italy to a 3-1 victory, sending them top of their UEFA Nations League group. It was a starring performance on a night that restored enthusiasm and ambition to Italian football.

At 21, Esposito has already scored nine goals in just 14 internationals, matching the tally of Francesco Totti, who needed 58 games to get there. There is already talk that he could overtake Gigi Riva’s record Italy tally of 35 – a mark that has stood for 52 years.

“We hope he can score a lot more, because it’s been a lifetime that Gigi Riva is at the top,” Italy coach Roberto Mancini told reporters. “We hope someone surpasses him for the good of the national team. Certainly Pio has a great ratio at the moment.”

Esposito has started this season in fine fashion for his club, with Italy now benefitting. For many years, the absence of a world-class goalscorer has a hot topic within the national team, but Mancini seems to have found an answer to his prayers.

Atoning for Zenica agony

During the first penalty kick awarded to Italy against Les Bleus, Esposito personally handed the ball to his brother Sebastiano, who was unable to beat Mike Maignan. Italy, though, were given another chance from the spot later in the game and this time the No9 made no mistake, making a point of celebrating with his sibling.

Esposito's thoughts inevitably went to his missed penalty against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the shootout during the UEFA play-offs for FIFA World Cup 2026™ qualification.

"On the penalty there was an extra responsibility, that of making people forget my brother's mistake, and I'm happy to have closed it for him too," Pio told RAI. "When I went to the penalty spot, the last memory was also that mistake in Zenica. Now it's over."

Mancini hails Italian heart

Italy's rise to the top of their UEFA Nations League group symbolises their growth since missing out on the World Cup. After a 1-1 draw with France in the last international window, victory in the return match has brought a welcome smile back to the Azzurri dressing room.

"It was a great performance," Mancini said. "I'm very happy for the boys and for the people. This win means a lot. "Now we have to go and win in Brussels to keep first place. The boys want to redeem themselves for everything that happened. The road is still long and we have to work hard."

Mancini also saluted Italy's fighting spirit after France took a 10th-minute lead through Michael Olise before Esposito equalised with a fine finish soon afterwards. "After that shocking start it could have ended [badly]," he said. "Instead we did well to stay calm and start again. I liked everything tonight."

"It wasn't easy to go down against France, recover the game and then even win it. This is one of the best nights of my career," winger Nicolo Cambiaghi noted.

The evening, though, belonged to Esposito, who was given a standing ovation by the 71,000-plus crowd at the San Siro when he was substituted off in stoppage time. Italy legend Christian Vieri has already tipped Esposito to break Riva's long-standing goalscoring record, and few would bet against him.