\n<\/p>\n
On Friday night, the French national team<\/strong> began its qualification campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Grouped with Iceland and Azerbaijan in Group D, Les Bleus kicked off their journey at the Tarczynski Arena against Ukraine, led by Serhiy Rebrov<\/strong>. Coach Didier Deschamps<\/strong> opted for a solid 4-2-3-1<\/strong> formation, featuring Maignan<\/strong> as the goalkeeper, Kound\u00e9<\/strong> and Digne<\/strong> on the flanks, and Konat\u00e9<\/strong> and Upamecano<\/strong> in central defense. The midfield comprised Kon\u00e9<\/strong> and Tchouam\u00e9ni<\/strong>, while Olise<\/strong>, Barcola<\/strong>, Dou\u00e9<\/strong>, and Mbapp\u00e9<\/strong> formed the attacking front.<\/p>\n Conversely, Ukraine lined up in a 4-5-1<\/strong> format, with goalkeeper Trubin<\/strong> at the back and Ilya Zabarnyi<\/strong>, a player from PSG<\/strong>, in defense. The attacking front saw Dovbyk<\/strong> flanked by Sudakov<\/strong>, Yarmolyuk<\/strong>, and Kaliuzhnyi<\/strong>. The first minutes of the match were evenly matched, but France gradually took control and was rewarded early on. After an impressive build-up, Barcola<\/strong> found space on the left, delivering a pinpoint cross to Olise<\/strong>, who netted with a precise left-footed shot (0-1, 10th minute).<\/p>\n With the pressure off, France continued to dominate, missing several chances to double their lead.<\/p>\n After a brief scare when Olise<\/strong> had another effort saved by Trubin (18th minute), Dou\u00e9<\/strong> saw his own shot thwarted by the Ukrainian goalkeeper (19th minute), while Mbapp\u00e9<\/strong>‘s attempt went wide (23rd minute). France maintained control and was close to scoring again when Tchouam\u00e9ni’s<\/strong> powerful strike from the edge of the box narrowly missed the target (36th minute). After halftime, Demb\u00e9l\u00e9<\/strong> replaced Dou\u00e9, who had been injured, yet the match flow remained unchanged. France confidently managed their lead against a spirited but ultimately limited Ukrainian side.<\/p>\n In the last 30 minutes, France came close to extending their advantage again. A spectacular aerial pass from Tchouam\u00e9ni found Demb\u00e9l\u00e9, whose volley was parried away by Trubin (58th minute). As France remained largely untroubled, they faced a brief moment of peril when Konat\u00e9<\/strong> made a miraculous clearance off the line (65th minute), just before Maignan<\/strong> was forced to save a header from Zabarnyi, hitting the post (66th minute). Regaining confidence, France pushed forward again, but Olise’s<\/strong> curled shot went wide of the target (68th minute).<\/p>\n As the match drew to a close, Rabiot<\/strong> came on for Demb\u00e9l\u00e9, who had aggravated his earlier injury. Tchouam\u00e9ni<\/strong> continued to shine, sending Mbapp\u00e9<\/strong> through one-on-one with Trubin. The Real Madrid star slotted the ball home accurately with his right foot (0-2, 82nd minute), securing France\u2019s first victory in this qualification round and placing them at the top of Group D alongside Iceland.<\/p>\n Tchouam\u00e9ni<\/strong> was exceptional, earning a rating of 8.5<\/strong>. His commanding presence in midfield overshadowed the Ukrainian players, showcasing his ability to recover the ball and make decisive plays. He not only delivered a stunning assist to Mbapp\u00e9<\/strong> but also made crucial interventions, ensuring France\u2019s defensive line remained intact. <\/p>\n Trubin<\/strong> had a challenging night, earning a rating of 4<\/strong>. Despite showing promise with several key saves, he could do little to prevent the breakthrough goal from Olise<\/strong> in the first half. His night was marked by a mix of brilliance and frustration, especially when faced with France’s potent attack. <\/p>\n Zinchenko<\/strong>, pivotal in defense and midfield, rated 4.5<\/strong>, struggled to assert himself against the relentless French pressure. His attempts to initiate attacks were frequently stifled, and he had little support when it mattered most. Matviyenko<\/strong> (rating 3.5<\/strong>) faced difficulties maintaining composure against the speed of France\u2019s forwards, while Zabarnyi<\/strong> (4.5) and Yarmolyuk<\/strong> (4) both had limited impact during the match.<\/p>\n The night was also tough for Dovbyk<\/strong>, who despite showing effort, could not penetrate the French defense effectively, earning a rating of 5<\/strong>.<\/p>\n In conclusion, France’s comprehensive performance against Ukraine displayed their readiness for the World Cup qualifiers. With key players like Tchouam\u00e9ni and Olise stepping up, the French squad looks to be in strong form as they aim for a successful campaign. The blend of solid defense and dynamic attacking play suggests that Didier Deschamps has a promising lineup heading into the next matches.<\/p>\nFrance\u2019s Resilient Performance<\/h2>\n
Man of the Match: Tchouam\u00e9ni<\/h2>\n
Ukraine’s Struggles<\/h2>\n