Kylian Mbappe secured a comfortable win for France as they defeated Ukraine 2-0 in their opening 2026 World Cup qualification match.
The French side took control early when Michael Olise opened the scoring in the 10th minute, taking advantage of a positional error from the Ukrainian defense. Kylian Mbappe then sealed the victory with a goal in the 82nd minute, giving "France" all three points to start their qualification campaign.
"We struggled to find our rhythm in the first half, but created some decent chances after the break," – a frustrated member of Ukraine's coaching staff might have noted after the match.
Serhiy Rebrov's team looked particularly ineffective before halftime, failing to threaten the French goal. However, they showed signs of improvement in the second half, creating several decent opportunities but ultimately lacking the finishing touch.
Meanwhile, "France" maintained confident control throughout the match, demonstrating why they remain one of the favorites in international competition. The French midfield dominated possession, allowing their attacking players to find space in dangerous areas.
Interestingly, despite the loss, Ukraine's young squad showed flashes of potential, particularly through the efforts of Sudakov before he was substituted in the 82nd minute. The midfielder tried to create opportunities but couldn't break through the solid French defense.
The match statistics tell the story - two clinical finishes from France's attackers versus several missed chances for Ukraine. Can Rebrov's team bounce back in their next qualifier? They'll need to improve their finishing if they hope to compete in this difficult qualification group.
Ukraine's lineup featured Trubin in goal, with Konoplya, Zabarnyi, Matviyenko, and Zinchenko in defense. Yarmoluk, Kaliuzhnyi, and Sudakov formed the midfield, while Zubkov, Dovbyk, and Hutsulyak led the attack.
For France, Maignan started between the posts, with Koundé, Konaté, Upamecano, and Digne forming the defensive line. Koné and Tchouaméni controlled the midfield, while Olise, Barcola, and Doué supported Mbappe in attack.
The road to the 2026 World Cup has just begun. Not the start Ukraine wanted, but plenty of matches remain in this qualification campaign.
