I'd have to say it would be the other way around, perhaps with the one player to miss the penalty being the only French player on that team who currently played....(drum roll please)... in Italy.
After spending almost a month in small town Italy a few years ago, I have to agree. Lots of carbs, but I found so many healthy behaviours to offset this. In my family's case, my nonna's cousin (of her and her husband I stayed with), she walked up and down a fairly good sized hill every single morning to get fresh bread and cheese for the day. Fruit grown on the property eaten almost every single day, fresh vegetables.
I wonder too if certain populations, due to high carb intake, may be more genetically inclined to handle carbohydrates in a better fashion. I am able to keep around 8-10% body fat quite easily and I eat a good portion of carbs at almost every meal. Granted, I have many many healthy eating/physical behaviours to offset this, but I feel there must be a link somewhere