Rayan Cherki Faces Backlash After France’s Italy Defeat
Manchester City midfielder Rayan Cherki has come under criticism following France’s 3-1 defeat to Italy in the UEFA Nations League on Thursday, November 12, 2026. The 23-year-old featured in Zinedine Zidane’s side but attracted scrutiny over his decision-making and effectiveness in a match that ended the French coach’s unbeaten start. https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/11/12/italy-fight-back-to-beat-france-3-1-and-move-top-of-nations-league-group
France initially took the lead through Michael Olise before Italy recovered to claim all three points at the San Siro. Cherki came close to scoring in the second half, but his effort was stopped by goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and diverted onto the post.
Cherki’s Performance Comes Under Scrutiny
Cherki’s display generated debate among football followers, with criticism focusing on his tendency to take additional touches and his ability to release the ball quickly under pressure.
Some supporters questioned whether his technical style was sufficiently effective against a physically demanding Italian side. Others raised concerns about his consistency and whether he could deliver the discipline required in a deeper midfield position.
French football outlet Maxifoot gave Cherki a rating of five out of 10, describing a performance that included promising creative moments but lacked the decisive impact needed to change the result.
The criticism also revived discussions about his suitability for Zidane’s midfield system, particularly as the coach continues to experiment with the Manchester City player’s role.
Cherki Admits France Needed to Move the Ball Faster
Speaking after the match, Cherki acknowledged that France struggled to circulate possession quickly enough to trouble Italy consistently.
In an interview with French broadcaster TF1, he said the team started well but became less effective as the match progressed.
The midfielder explained that France needed to move the ball from one side of the pitch to the other more quickly instead of taking too many touches in possession.
He also observed that the team created danger whenever players combined quickly, suggesting that slower sequences allowed Italy to organise defensively.
Cherki described the defeat as frustrating but maintained that the team could learn important lessons from the experience.
His comments offered an insight into the problems France encountered, while also highlighting that the difficulties were not limited to one player’s performance.
Cherki’s Midfield Role Raises Questions
The debate surrounding Cherki has extended beyond the defeat to Italy, with his positioning under Zidane attracting attention.
The Manchester City player is known for his technical ability, close control and creativity in attacking areas. However, operating in a deeper role requires him to contribute more consistently to possession management and defensive responsibilities.
His performance against Italy contained both positive and disappointing moments. He produced a dangerous second-half effort that forced Donnarumma into an important save, but did not manage to prevent France from losing control of the contest.
The result has therefore intensified questions about how Zidane intends to use the midfielder in upcoming international fixtures.
France Face Türkiye in Crucial Final Group Match
France must now turn their attention to their next Nations League fixture against Türkiye on Sunday.
Italy’s victory moved them above France at the top of Group A1, with both teams level on 10 points but separated by their head-to-head record. Belgium remain close behind on nine points after defeating Türkiye 2-1.
The French team will need a positive result against Türkiye to strengthen their position in the group and respond to the setback in Milan.
For Cherki, the upcoming fixture presents an opportunity to answer his critics with a stronger performance and demonstrate his value to Zidane’s plans.
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