1. Match Overview
France kicked off their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign with a convincing 2–0 win over Ukraine in Wroclaw, Poland, on September 5, 2025. The victory secured three important points for Didier Deschamps’ side in Group D and underlined their status as favorites.
Goals – Olise and Mbappé Deliver
- Michael Olise opened the scoring in the 10th minute after a clever assist from Bradley Barcola, giving Ukraine France match goal celebrationan early lead.
- Kylian Mbappé sealed the win in the 82nd minute with a composed finish. The goal was his 51st for France, equaling the legendary Thierry Henry in the all-time scorers’ list, behind only Olivier Giroud.
2. Tactical and Team Analysis
Formation and Dominance
France lined up in a 4-2-3-1 system, controlling possession and dictating the pace in the first half. Ukraine struggled to break through the French midfield and create meaningful chances.
Midfield Mastery – Tchouaméni’s Performance
Aurélien Tchouaméni was one of the standout performers, completing 64 of his 67 passes, including several long diagonals. He also provided the assist for Mbappé’s late goal.
Mbappé’s Impact
Mbappé was the most threatening player on the pitch, recording four shots and four successful dribbles. His speed and composure once again proved decisive for Les Bleus.
Defense and Goalkeeping
Mike Maignan ensured France kept a clean sheet, making key saves whenever Ukraine attempted to push forward.
3. Match Statistics
| Parameter | France | Ukraine |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | ~56% | ~44% |
| Total shots | 16 | 8 |
| Shots on target | 6 | 3 |
| Passes | ~538 | ~408 |
| Corners | 4 | 4 |
France dominated both in possession and attacking output, reflecting their superiority throughout the 90 minutes.
4. Historical Context
This was the 13th meeting between France and Ukraine. The head-to-head record strongly favors France, with 7 wins, 5 draws, and only 1 loss.
- In 2013, Ukraine beat France 2–0 in a playoff first leg, but France famously overturned the deficit with a 3–0 win in Paris.
- In 2021 qualifiers, both encounters ended in 1–1 draws.
- In a 2020 friendly, France defeated Ukraine 7–1, one of their most memorable wins.
5. Significance and Next Steps
- For France: This victory gives them a strong start in Group D. Their next fixture will be against Iceland in Paris, where they will look to build momentum.
- For Ukraine: The loss means they need to regroup quickly, with their upcoming match against Azerbaijan offering a chance to pick up their first qualifying points.
- For Mbappé: Matching Thierry Henry’s record is a historic milestone, but the striker insisted that his focus remains on team success rather than personal achievements.
Conclusion
France combined talent, tactical discipline, and experience to secure a 2–0 win over Ukraine. Michael Olise’s early strike and Kylian Mbappé’s record-tying goal ensured a confident start to their World Cup 2026 qualifying journey.
For Ukraine, the match was a reminder of the challenges ahead, but also an opportunity to bounce back stronger in the coming fixtures.
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