“Football.ua talks about the past matches of our national team with the French on the eve of the second face-to-face meeting as part of the World Cup 2026 selection.”, — write: football.ua
Football.ua talks about the past matches of our national team with the French on the eve of the second face-to-face meeting as part of the World Cup 2026 selection.
Ukraine — France 0:0, France — Ukraine 0:0, Euro-2000 qualifying
The first and second clash of the “blue and yellow” with the Gallic team took place during the qualification for the European Championship-2000. Then both matches ended in a goalless draw. The matches took place in an equal and fierce struggle, and Ukraine was not focused exclusively on defense – there were plenty of moments both in one and the other.
As a result, our national team will take the second place in the tournament table of its group, just behind Roger Lemerre’s wards, making the exit to the playoffs, where it will fail in the fight against the Slovenians and will be left without a ticket to the Euro.
France: Bartez, Tyuram, Lizarazu, Petit (Bogossyan, 78), Blanc, Jorkaeff, Deschamps, Desai, Anelka, Pires (Vikash, 84), Duharry (Viltor, 69)
Coach: Roger Lemerre
Ukraine: Shovkovsky, Luzhnyi, Mykytin, Golovko, Vashchuk, Husin (Skrypnyk, 86), Popov, Kovalev (Kosovsky, 55), Skachenko (Maksimov, 69), Shevchenko, Rebrov
Coach: Jozef Szabo
Ukraine: Shovkovsky, Luzhnyi, Popov, Golovko, Vashchuk, Dmytrulin (Mykytin, 46), Husin (Tsikhmeistruk, 81), Maksimov (Konovalov, 67), Kosovsky, Shevchenko, Rebrov
Coach: Jozef Szabo
France: Barthez, Thuram, Lizarazu, Vieira, Blanc, Jorkaeff (Pires, 68), Deschamps, Desai, Anelka (Lalan, 52), Zidane, Carambe
Coach: Roger Lemerre
France — Ukraine 1:0, friendly match, 2004
Goal: Zidan, 89
France: Barthez, Gallas (Sagnoles, 76), Thuram, Sylvester, Lizarazu, Vieira, Makelele (Pedretti, 84), Pires (Wiltor, 84), Zidane, Saa (Marle, 76), Henry
Coach: Jacques Santini
Ukraine: Shovkovskyi, Fedorov (Checher, 84), Tymoshchuk (Venglinskyi, 90), Yezerskyi, Nesmachnyi, Rotan (Nazarenko, 84), Rusol, Shelaev, Starostyak (Bidnenko, 72), Vorobey (Kosyrin, 70), Gusev (Rebrov, 62)
Coach: Oleg Blokhin
In the “goods” of 2004, the team regrettably missed not Józef Szabo, but Oleg Blokhin at the end of the confrontation at the Stade de France by Zinedine Zidane.
France — Ukraine 2:0 and Ukraine — France 2:2, Euro-2008 selection
The history of official confrontations continued in the next selection cycle, this time — the European Championship in Austria and Switzerland.
France — Ukraine 2:0
goals: Ribery, 57, Anelka, 71
France: Coupe, Abidal, Clare, Gallas, Thuram, Malouda, Nasri (Diarra, 81), Ribery, Tulalan, Makelele, Anelka (Cisse, 76)
Coach: Raymond Domenek
Ukraine: Shovkovskyi, Nesmachnyi, Rusol, Yezerskyi (Levchenko, 78), Chygrinskyi, Kalynychenko (Rotan, 64), Tymoshchuk, Gusev, Mykhalyk, Gai, Voronin (Vorobei, 72)
Coach: Oleg Blokhin
The finalist and quarterfinalist of the 2006 World Cup were disappointed in the first game of that qualification on French soil, where Oleg Blokhin’s team, unfortunately, failed to score even one point. Not least due to the absence of Andriy Mykolayovych Shevchenko, who took a seat in the stands of the Stade de France. In the first half, both teams created only half-moments, but in the second half of the match, the home team broke through.
In the episode with the first goal of the Gauls, Oleksandr Shovkovskii played unsuccessfully on the way out, allowing Frank Ribery to hit an empty net, while the second effective shot, firing into the near corner of the possession of the current captain of Dynamo Kyiv, was scored by Nikolas Anelka.
Ukraine — France 2:2
Goals: Voronin, 14, Shevchenko, 46 — Henri, 20, Govu, 34
Ukraine: Pyatov, Vashchuk, Hrytsai, Romanchuk (Yezersky, 81), Fedorov, Tymoshchuk, Gusev (Milevsky, 90), Rotan, Gai, Shevchenko, Voronin (Shelaev, 85)
Coach: Oleg Blokhin
France: Frey, Clare, Gallas, Thuram, Abidal, Ribery (Ben Arfa, 89), Makelele, Diarra, Govu, Henry, Benzema (Nasri, 46)
Coach: Raymond Domenek
On the eve of the match of the last round between these rivals, there is a struggle to reach at least the “joints” of the continental forum our team was no longer shining. The defeat by Lithuania (0:2) earlier in the round turned the battle in Kyiv into a formality. Nevertheless, this formality turned out to be quite bright and interesting, which at least partly compensated for the negative aftertaste of that selection.
Ukraine — France 1:4, friendly match of 2011
Goals: Tymoshchuk, 53 — Gameiro, 58, Marten, 87, 90+1, Kabul, 89
Ukraine: Pyatov, Kobin, Kucher (Khacheridi, 33), Ishchenko, Shevchuk, Tymoshchuk, Devych (Seleznyov, 69), Gusev (Khudobyak, 74), Nazarenko (Kozhanov, 62), Rotan, Voronin (Milevsky, 60)
Coach: Oleg Blokhin
France: Mandanda, Evra, Kabul, Cabaye (Diabi, 77), Revere, Sakho (Abidal, 76), Mwila, Gameiro (Benzema, 65), Matuidi (Martin, 77), Menez (Malouda, 65), Remy (Ribery, 64)
Coach: Laurent Blanc
It was very difficult for the national team of Ukraine to play matches at the Donetsk stadium, where a year later it was again defeated by the French, but at the home Euro, while in the process of preparing for that tournament, we managed to cross paths with Laurent Blanc’s team in a friendly match. Anatoly Tymoshchuk then opened the scoring with a crazy long shot, after which the French dominated the field.
Ukraine — France 0:2, 2nd round of the group stage of Euro-2012
Goals: Menez, 53, Kabay, 56
Ukraine: Pyatov — Gusev, Mykhalyk, Khacheridi, Selin — Tymoshchuk — Yarmolenko (Aliev, 68), Nazarenko (Milevsky, 60), Voronin (Devich, 46), Konoplyanka — Shevchenko
Coach: Oleg Blokhin
France: Lloris – Debuchy, Rami, Mexes, Clichy – Diarra – Menez (Martin, 73), Nasri, Cabaye (Mwila, 68), Ribery – Benzema (Giroud, 76)
Coach: Laurent Blanc
After the strong-willed victory over Sweden in the first round of the group stage of Euro-2012, the Ukrainians were expected to continue the banquet. But the French national team did not seem like an extremely invincible opponent, so Oleg Blokhin’s team could count on at least a draw. Unfortunately, the worst possible scenario then became real.
Ukraine got off to a lively start to that match, but the weather soon intervened, forcing the game to be suspended for a while. The match was in danger of being disrupted, but the drainage of the Donbas Arena withstood the heavy downpour. This news was the only positive episode that evening.
After the break, “Le Ble” organized two rapid counterattacks, which ended with goals by Menez and Cabaye, and the “blue and yellow” never managed to fully return to the game.
Ukraine — France 2:0 and France — Ukraine 3:0, World Cup 2014 qualifying play-offs
The most legendary two-match confrontation between Ukraine and France began simply fabulously for us, ending incredibly painfully and tragically.
After the departure of Oleg Blokhin to Kyiv who Dynamo and one point in two matches under the guidance of his assistants, the “blue and yellow” cheered up under the leadership of new helmsman Mykhailo Fomenko, making an impressive finishing move in the qualifying group with England, Poland, Montenegro, Moldova and San Marino.
However, it was only enough for the second step, and in the historically cursed “matches” we got the most difficult of possible opponents, namely “Le Ble”, who in their group conceded only to Spain.
Ukraine — France 2:0
goals: Zozulya, 61, Yarmolenko, 83 (pen.)
Ukraine: Pyatov — Fedetsky, Khacheridi, Kucher, Shevchuk — Edmar (Bezus, 77), Stepanenko, Rotan — Yarmolenko, Zozulya (Seleznyov, 86), Konoplyanka (Gusev, 90+2)
Coach: Mykhailo Fomenko
France: Lloris — Debuchy, Koselny, Abidal, Evra — Pogba, Matuidi — Remy (Sissoko, 62), Nasri (Valbuena, 80), Ribery — Giroud (Benzema, 70)
Coach: Didier Deschamps
Withdrawal: Kucher, 90+5 (second warning) — Koselny, 90+1
Few bet on a comfortable result, at least in the Kyiv match, but the reality exceeded all expectations! Ukraine played one of the best matches in its history in terms of quality and substance of play, sensationally beating the Gauls 2-0 thanks to goals from Roman Zozuli and Andriy Yarmolenko.
The same evening, after which Franck Ribery, who Artem Fedetsky found in his pocket in the dressing room among other trinkets, actually lost his chances for the Ballon d’Or.
The whole of Ukraine, even with those who are as far from football as possible, was in a state of euphoria for a whole week, but it was still necessary to play the return match.
France — Ukraine 3:0
goals: Sakho, 22, 72, Benzema, 34
France: Lloris — Debuchy (Sagna, 78), Varane, Sakho, Evra — Pogba, Cabaye, Matuidi — Valbuena, Benzema (Giroud, 82), Ribery
Coach: Didier Deschamps
Ukraine: Pyatov — Mandzyuk, Khacheridi, Rakitsky, Shevchuk — Rotan, Edmar — Yarmolenko, Bezus (Gusev, 64), Konoplyanka — Zozulya (Seleznyov, 76)
Coach: Mykhailo Fomenko
Withdrawal: Khacheridi, 47 (second warning)
As you know, it is much easier to get to the top than to stay on it. Unfortunately, this sad folk wisdom played against our national team in Paris.
Yes, Ukraine initially came out to defend the home result, counting on counterattacks, but several of our only goalscoring opportunities were not realized, while the opponent had almost everything.
Our mistakes, Evgeni Khacheridi’s dismissal at the beginning of the second half and the brilliant performance of the opponent left us without the World Cup.
France — Ukraine 7:1, friendly match of 2020
goals: Kamavinga, 9, Giroud, 24, 34, Mykolenko, 39 (author), Tolisso, 65, Mbappe, 82, Griezmann, 89 — Tsygankov, 53
France: Mandanda (Mainhan, 46) — Pawar, Upamecano (Varan, 46), Lenglet, Digne — Kamavinga (Griezmann, 59), Nzonzi, Tolisso — Martial (Mbappe, 46), Ouar (Pogba, 59), Giroud (Ben Yedder, 73)
Coach: Didier Deschamps
Ukraine: Bushchan — Konoplia, Zabarny, Mykolenko (Cheberko, 46), Mykhailichenko (Sobol, 46) — Kharatin — Malinovskyi (Tsygankov, 46), Makarenko (Shepelev, 62), Shaparenko, Zubkov (Bezus, 71) — Yarmolenko (Yaremchuk, 62)
Coach: Andriy Shevchenko
This beating should be perceived exclusively through the prism of the friendly nature of the meeting and the rotation from the coaching staff. The game with the reigning world champions was originally supposed to take place in the spring of 2019, but due to the pandemic, the date was shifted to the most important battles of the “blue and yellow” with Germany and Spain in the elite division of the League of Nations, which, together with Ukraine’s personnel losses due to the coronavirus and injuries, forced Andrii Mykolayovych Shevchenko to trust many debutants and the closest reserves.
It turned out disastrously, but the importance of this fiasco should not be overestimated.
France — Ukraine 1:1, 1st round of World Cup 2022 selection
goals: Griezmann, 19 — Kimpembe, 57 (author)
France: Lloris — Pawar, Varane, Kimpembe, L. Hernandez — Coman (Dembele, 64), Kante, Rabiot, Mbappe (Martial, 77) — Griezmann, Giroud (Pogba, 63)
Coach: Didier Deschamps
Ukraine: Bushchan — Karavaev, Kryvtsov, Zabarny, Matvienko, Mykolenko — Shaparenko (Zubkov, 86), Malinovskyi, Sydorchuk (Kovalenko, 79), Zinchenko — Yaremchuk (Moraes, 72)
Coach: Andriy Shevchenko
Few would have seriously expected to pick up points in their first Qatar World Cup qualifier against the French in Paris, but Ukraine produced one of the best matches in their history in terms of structure and organization of the game, brilliantly executing the coaching staff’s initial set-up, leading to a strategically important draw with Didier Deschamps’ side.
Ukraine — France 1:1
goals: Shaparenko, 44 — Martial, 50
Ukraine: Pyatov — Matvienko, Kryvtsov, Zabarny — Tymchyk, Stepanenko, Shaparenko (Sydorchuk, 90), Mykolenko — Yarmolenko (Zubkov, 90+3), Yaremchuk (Sikan, 82), Tsygankov (Malinovsky, 82)
Coach: Oleksandr Petrakov
France: Lloris — Dubois, Zouma, Kimpembe, Digne — Coman (M. Diaby, 64), Chouameni (Veretu, 83), Pogba, Rabiot — Griezmann — Martial (Benzema, 64)
Coach: Didier Deschamps
Already in the capital of Ukraine, the national teams shared the points again. Anthony Martial responded to Mykola Shaparenko’s goal closer to the end of the first half of the confrontation after the break with his effective shot. The French ended up going directly to the World Cup in Qatar, while we finished second in the group, beating Finland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kazakhstan.
Further participation in the playoffs again did not make them happy with obtaining such a coveted ticket. After the victory over Scotland (3:1), “blue and yellow” unfortunately lost to Wales (0:1).
Ukraine — France 0:2, 1st round of World Cup 2026 selection
Goals: Olise, 10, Mbappe, 82
France: Meignan – Kunde (Giusto, 90+2), Konate, Upamecano, Dinh – Kone, Chuameni – Barkola (Rabio, 76), Olisse (Akliush, 90+2), Duet (Dembele, 46, Ekitike, 81) – Mbappe.
The national team of Ukraine began the qualification for the 2026 World Cup with a defeat, losing to the main group favorites France with a score of 0:2. The match in Wroclaw was the first test for Serhii Rebrov’s wards in the new cycle. “Blue-yellow” couldn’t resist the speed and class of the “tricolor”, conceding already in the 10th minute after the end of Olisa’s attack. In the first half, Ukraine’s defense looked confused, and goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin saved the team several times from increasing the advantage of the French.
Traditionally, the second half was more meaningful and aggressive for the Ukrainians. The team created several dangerous moments, in particular, after the strikes of Dovbyk and Kalyuzhny, when the defender Konate and the left post of the goal entered the game. However, the desire to win back led to the fact that in the 82nd minute, the “blue and yellow” missed a counterattack, which was completed by Kylian Mbappe, setting the final score.
According to the upcoming match between France and Ukraine p watch the online text broadcast on our website.