After its polemical success in Ukraine (2-0), the French team had the opportunity to confirm its good start of qualifications for the 2026 World Cup. An opportunity confirmed by the draw between Azerbaijan and Ukraine. Secondly in the group D ranking, the players of Didier Deschamps welcomed the leader to the Parc des Princes, Iceland. A meeting for which the national coach could not count on Ousmane Dembélé or Désiré Doué, both released on injury against Ukraine and packages for the rest of the rally. For this match, DD decided to align a 4-2-3-1 with nine of the eleven holders of the trip to Poland (Maignan, Koundé, Konaté, Upamecano, Tchouameni, Koné, Olise, Barcola and Mbappé). Theo Hernandez and Marcus Thuram replaced Lucas worthy and desired respectively.
Unsurprisingly, the Blues started the meeting with the intention to beat the opposing goalkeeper as quickly as possible, Elias Rafn Olafsson. From the second minute, Kylian Mbappé also lit the first wick. But tonight, Olafsson decided to upset the French. Obliged to compose with an Iceland team grouped in low blocks, but very aggressive on the ball carrier, Didier Deschamps' men still managed to get some opportunities by Marcus Thuram. But each time, Olafsson was there to repel the attempts of the interist (15th, 19th). We were able to attend one of the most classic scenarios in football. France dominated largely, but on a pass from Michael Olise in his own penalty area, Andri Gu insurance was there to spring and take advantage of the Bayern player's error to open the score against the course of the game (0-1, 22nd).
The Blues saved by the Var
Inevitably upset, the French immediately put the gases back, like Mbappé (28th) to make their delay before the break, but there was always an Icelandic leg, knee or thigh to counter the leather … When it was not Olafsson who got involved that attempts at close range of Thuram and Manu Koné (33rd). Bradley Barcola went there from his volley, but it was spinning just above the right skylight (36th). France pushed and Thuram finally managed to make the difference by obtaining a penalty transformed by Mbappé (1-1, 45th). At the break, the Blues did not lead to the score, but at least they did not lose after 45 minutes clearly dominated (78% of the ball possession, 14 shots at 2). On the return from the locker room, no change. France remained a mistress of leather, Manu Koné scratched an incalculable number of balloons and the Blues sought to take shelter as soon as possible. Guilty about the opening of the score, Olise could have redeemed himself in a very beautiful way if her coiled left had not crushed on the crossable (53rd). It was finally Barcola who put the Blues in front. Launched by Tchouameni, Mbappé spun at the duel with Olafsson, but chose to pass the leather to his former PSG partner, alone in front of the goal. A paid choice (2-1, 62nd).
Despite a favorable scenario, the French have always been under pressure, especially since they evolved ten against eleven from the 67th minute, following an unheeded tackle of Aurélien Tchouameni on Jón Dagur þorsteinsson. An event that caused Adrien Rabiot's entry into the game constantly hoa by the public in the Parc des Princes with each ball. For the rest, Mbappé had two opportunities to put an end to the suspense, but the Merengue lacked precision (75th) or rose to Olafsson (77th). Manu Koné could have been the liberator, which would have rewarded his activity, but his shot was not framed (81st). An ineffectiveness which could have been fatal since Andri Guðjohnsen thought to register a double and offer the point of the draw to his country. Fortunately for the Blues, the goal was canceled for a fault of the Scandinavian on Konaté (88th) after calling the Var. In the end, France was scared, but was able to keep this little goal in advance. We will only remember the score, but it is the most important, because France takes the lead in the classification of its group, with three units ahead of their opponents of the day.
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