It’s a duel that has almost become a classic of European football: on the lawn of the Parc des Princes, the Blues challenged Ukraine, as part of qualifying for the next World Cup. Didier Deschamps’ troops had the opportunity to book their ticket to America with a victory this evening, while Ukraine was in a good position for the play-offs. For this match, the national coach was banking on Maignan in the cages, with Digne, Upamecano, Saliba and Koundé in front of him. In the midfield, we found Koné and Kanté, with a line of three in front of them made up of Barcola, Cherki and Olise. Mbappé was the French offensive reference. Opposite, some well-known names, like the Parisian Illia Zabarnyi or Roman Yaremchuk. And with this 4-0 victory, the Blues are officially qualified for the 2026 World Cup, the eighth in a row for France.
Without too much surprise, the French quickly seized the ball, with offensive players who were keen to show themselves, aware that they had an opportunity in the absence of certain starters. Rayan Cherki, for example, missed the target of an attempt from the edge of the area (13th), while Kylian Mbappé, who hopes to recharge his batteries following internal problems at Real, saw Trubin thwart his attempt (17th). Dominant and little worried, in this particular context linked to ten years of the attacks which shook Paris, the Tricolores were however quite clumsy in the last meters, like Cherki and Mbappé, quite messy. The chances were therefore rare, with a team which was also short of ideas when it had the ball and seemed to rely on its individualities.
Laborious first period, much better in the second period
Barcola was close to finding the fault before the break, but Trubin made a nice save on the Parisian’s curl, and the ball even hit the post (42nd). The biggest chance of the match for a fairly determined and enterprising Barcola up front. The same could not necessarily be said of Olise or Mbappé. So far anyway. But overall, the spectacle put on by the Blues remained quite poor. What can we say about the Ukrainians, who did not shoot once in the entire first period. Upon returning from the locker room, the Blues even had a big scare with a possible penalty from Upamecano on Nazaryna, ultimately not awarded after recourse to VAR. Better yet, a few minutes later, it was France who would benefit from a penalty following a foul on Olise, excellent in the second period (54th).
It was the specialist Kylian Mbappé who would take care of it, placing the ball perfectly under the bar on his panenka (1-0, 55th). The start of a second period that is much more pleasant and rich in spectacle… The Merengue was not far from the double on this closed angle shot, but very dangerous (58th). The goal gave new impetus to the Blues, now a little sharper. Mbappé was particularly very active, but often came up against a fairly leggy Trubin. If Ekitiké, who had just entered, found the post (71st), it was Olise who made the break. At the penalty spot, the Bavarian pivoted and sent a powerful shot deep (2-0, 76th). Note Akliouche’s great recovery at the start and Kanté’s great assist. Opposite, it was nothingness, and the Blues continued to create chances. Mbappé went for his double, pushing the ball deep after a funny missed intervention from Trubin on Ekitike (3-0, 83rd). The Liverpool player was just joining the party. After a solo rush, he combined with Mbappé at the entrance to the area and shot Trubin after this one-two (4-0, 88th). See you this summer in America!
