France overpower Ukraine in World Cup qualifier
The UEFA World Cup qualifier between Ukraine and France turned into a tough night for the hosts, as the French side walked away with a 2–0 victory at the Tarczynski Arena in Wroclaw, Poland. This was the opening Group D clash for both teams, and it showed just how clinical France can be when chances are created.
The game started with a quick blow to Ukraine’s confidence. Only ten minutes into the first half, Michael Olise found the back of the net after receiving a sharp assist from Bradley Barcola. That early strike set the tone of the match, as France looked comfortable in possession and controlled much of the midfield. Despite some resilience from Ukraine, especially with Oleksandr Zinchenko pushing from the back and Artem Dovbyk trying to create opportunities up front, the French defense, led by Upamecano and Konaté, was rarely troubled.
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By halftime, Ukraine had managed to hold France to just one goal, but the visitors’ dominance in possession—over 55 percent—showed where the momentum was heading. Ukraine’s midfielders Sudakov and Kaliuzhnyi tried to build plays, but the final pass was often intercepted. The hosts did create seven shots in total, but only two tested goalkeeper Mike Maignan, who stood firm when called upon.
In the second half, substitutions were made to inject fresh energy. Ukraine brought on Nazarenko and Vanat in hopes of sparking a turnaround, while France introduced Ousmane Dembélé and later Hugo Ekitiké. The changes did not shift the balance much, as France continued to press forward. A key moment arrived in the 82nd minute when Kylian Mbappé, captaining his side, sealed the result with a well-taken goal assisted by Aurélien Tchouaméni. That strike not only doubled France’s lead but also reflected their sharpness in the attacking third, with 29 touches inside the Ukrainian penalty area compared to just nine for the hosts.
Statistically, the gap was clear. France completed nearly 500 passes with almost 90 percent accuracy, while Ukraine struggled to push forward with the same consistency. The French were also more efficient in tackles, winning 77 percent compared to Ukraine’s 72 percent. Even though Ukraine did strike the woodwork once, the breakthrough never came, and their defensive clearances only delayed the inevitable.
For Ukraine, this defeat means starting the qualifiers without points, placing them third in the group behind Iceland and France. For Didier Deschamps’ men, it was the perfect start—three points, a clean sheet, and confidence going into the next round.
Head-to-head history has not been in Ukraine’s favor, and this match continued that trend. France now has six wins in their last twelve encounters with Ukraine, while the latter has only managed one victory. With such form, France is once again showing why they are considered favorites in European football, while Ukraine will need to regroup quickly if they want to stay in contention for the 2026 World Cup.
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