Italy have succumbed to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of France in Thursday night's international friendly at the San Nicola Stadium.

The fixture in the Southern Italian city of Bari saw new Azzurri head coach Giampiero Ventura take charge of the national side against their trans-Alpine rivals.

Didier Deschamps's charges began brightly and took the lead just after the quarter-hour mark as Anthony Martial made the most of a misjudged ball through the Azzurri backline to drill home.

A ball through the defence was allowed to run by veteran defender Giorgio Chiellini and, with Andrea Barzagli also missing the ball, the Manchester United man was only too eager to draw first blood.

Four minutes later, however, the hosts were level as Eder got the better of N'Golo Kante and slipped the ball to Graziano Pelle who, with his back to goal, swivelled and fired into the bottom corner.

Another lapse in defensive concentration allowed Olivier Giroud to volley France back in front in the 28th minute after a set piece was not cleared properly and the ensuing ball sprung the offside trap, allowing the Arsenal man to react by thumping past Gianluigi Buffon.

Deschamps's charges then made sure of the win late on when Layvin Kurzawa caught debutant Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma out with a snap shot from a tight angle, the 17-year-old expecting the Paris Saint-Germain full-back to cut inside after Paul Pogba had played him in.