“Not to fall face down in the mud and keep the game with the Icelanders in mind”, — write: sport.ua
France “If we could avoid playing on November 13, that would be better. It is a special day, and various commemorative events will be organized. Nevertheless, the football match will take place, and it will be very important for us,” said Didier Deschamps, head coach of the French national team, on the eve of the match against the Ukrainian national team.
Why would he want to avoid the match on November 13? Because on this day, exactly ten years ago, several terrorist attacks were committed in Paris. And one of them is near the Stade de France arena. That already distant November day divided the new history of France into before and after.
And there can be no doubt that on this memorable day for all of France, its football players will go to the game against our team with extra motivation.
Even so, the motivation of Deschamps’ wards must be at the proper level. In the last round, they unexpectedly lost points in the game against Iceland (the match ended in a 2:2 draw), so they will probably play without too much relaxation in the match against Ukraine, because the victory ensures them an early first place in the group and a direct ticket to the World Cup.
Actually, hardly anyone doubted that it was France in our group that would order music. Before the above-mentioned away match against the “Vikings”, the French, without particularly straining, methodically collected the “scalps” of their opponents.
And now, to confirm its high status, the “tricolor” needs one more victory.
In the match against Ukraine, Didier Deschamps will not be able to field the optimal lineup, as there are not enough patients in the team infirmary. Dembele, the best footballer of last season, will not be able to play due to an injury. Tchuameni, Kolo-Muani, Douai, Thuram and Rabiot will also miss the game.
Against this background, Kante’s call to the Saudi Arabian national team, who has not received a call-up for over a year, is very revealing.
Ukraine The selection for the 2026 World Cup began with a match against the French national team. It is interesting that our team meets the French for the second time in a row in the selection for the WC.
Last time, Deschamps’ wards were in our group in the status of current world champions, this time – in the rank of vice-champions. And although in the selection for the 2022 World Cup, the “blue and yellow” managed to avoid defeats against “Le Bleu”, this time the French proved their reputation as favorites: the debut game at the start of the selection for the 2026 World Cup ended in a 0:2 defeat for us.
A legitimate defeat that did not raise any particular questions. And what can be the questions when a more cool team won from a less cool one?
However, after Serhiy Rebrov’s wards drew with Azerbaijan in the second round, a lot of criticism fell on the head coach of our team and his wards.
And there was something to criticize. First of all, for the lack of a game plan, for the lack of desire. Rebrov apologized after that ill-fated game in Baku, assuring that “we have not yet been relegated,” but few believed him.
Nevertheless, in the next two matches – the October cycle – our team won the maximum. And moved to second place. To the place that was predicted to us with one voice even before the start of the qualifying tournament. Actually, even Didier Deschamps emphasized that Ukraine is the main rival of his team in the fight for the first place in the group.
And now the situation has developed in such a way that the first two teams of our quartet are separated by only three points. France wins – and it is already unconditionally first. But what if Ukraine wins?
Theoretically, the French can end up in the final, not even second, but third place. But this is from the category of sorcery.
As for the October cycle, as well as for the current one, Serhiy Rebrov failed to summon all the strongest performers. The reason is the same: injuries. The absence of Zinchenko and Dovbyk in the national team camp should be especially noted. Brazhko and Batagovy will not help the main team of the country. Mihavka and Voloshyn were called instead of the last two.
History of confrontations Our national team quite often crossed paths with the French national team. The upcoming match will be the 14th face-to-face confrontation between the “blue-yellow” and “Le Bleu”. A noticeable advantage on the side of the French. They have seven victories to their credit. Our team won one, five more matches ended in a draw.
The difference between scored and missed goals is also noticeably in favor of our opponent – 25:8. It is worth noting that almost a third of these missed goals were missed by our national team in the memorable “coronavirus” friendly match of 2020 (then Andriy Shevchenko’s wards lost 1:7).
It is interesting that all eight goals that the Ukrainians scored against the French in different years were written by different performers.
Forecast If we speak objectively, then our team has very few chances in the game against France. Yes, miracles sometimes happen, and you have to believe, however, as well as play, until the end, but still, given the level of our opponent, and the above-mentioned context of the game on November 13, one can conclude that the hosts will be stronger.
But even with such a schedule plus a possible victory of the Icelanders in Baku, nothing will be lost for our team, because there will still be a face-to-face meeting against the “Vikings” in the last round. In that match, we have to give all our strength and get a positive result for ourselves. And we don’t have many chances in the Paris match. Our prediction is 2:1 in favor of the hosts.
Estimated compositions:
France: Menyan, Kunde, Upamecano, Konate, Hernandez, Kone, Kamavinga, Sherky, Barkolja, Olise, Mbappe
Ukraine: Trubin, Konoplia, Matvienko, Zabarny, Svatok, Mykolenko, Kalyuzhny, Ocheretko, Malinovsky, Sudakov, Vanat.