France 4-0 Ukraine

In a second half blitz, Kylian Mbappe scored twice and got an assist with Michael Olise and Hugo Ekitike also getting on the scoresheet in an eventually comfortable 4-0 victory over Ukraine for France to confirm their qualification to the World Cup. N’golo Kante was also back in the France XI for the first time in over a year and he was imperious on the night, getting an assist as well.

Bradley Barcola and Michael Olise were either side of Kylian Mbappe, with the in-form Rayan Cherki in the number 10 position in France’s 4231 set up. Ukraine went with a 532 to contain the overwhelming attacking prowess of France, Roman Yaremchuk and Oleksii Hutsuliak were up while Yehor Yarmolyuk, Yehor Nazarnya and Oleg Ocheretko were the midfield three.

From minute 1, the match was characterized by relentless French pressure met by tenacious Ukrainian defense, setting up a frustrating first half for the hosts. France immediately signaled their intent in the 4th minute when Michael Olise tested the Ukrainian keeper, Anatoliy Trubin, with a shot from the edge of the box, which Trubin managed to save. Just three minutes later, in the 7th minute, Rayan Cherki attempted a right-foot shot that was immediately blocked by a Ukrainian defender, illustrating the visitors’ commitment to their low defensive block.

The most significant early threat came from France’s star player, Kylian Mbappé. In the 17th minute, Mbappé rifled a powerful low shot from distance, forcing Trubin to exert himself fully to tip the effort behind for a corner.

This early intensity suggested an imminent breakthrough, but Ukraine held firm, maintaining their disciplined shape to deny clear opportunities. The defensive battle spilled into the disciplinary column in the 31st minute when France’s Manu Koné received a yellow card for a mistimed challenge on Roman Yaremchuk. This moment highlighted the central struggle, with France often having to commit tactical fouls as Ukraine sought opportunities on the break.

As the half neared its end, France ratcheted up the pressure, leading to the closest call of the first 45 minutes. In the 42nd minute, Bradley Barcola curled a shot that was brilliantly saved by Trubin, who managed to push the effort onto his right-hand post.

That shot was the final action before the interval. Ukraine’s defensive strategy had been a success, they successfully prevented France from creating quality chances. The initial 45 minutes were a testament to Ukraine’s tactical resolve and goalkeeper Trubin’s performance, as France dominated possession but lacked the clinical edge required to penetrate a deep, organized defense.

The second half, however, saw the match completely transform from a stalemate into a French goal procession, ignited by two high-stakes penalty incidents. The drama began in the 52nd minute with a nervy moment for the French defense. A VAR review was conducted after Dayot Upamecano made a high tackle on Yehor Nazaryna inside the box, but the referee ultimately decided not to award a penalty to Ukraine. This was a huge reprieve for France and seemed to embolden their subsequent attack.

Just two minutes later, the referee awarded a penalty to France after Taras Mykhavko was deemed to have stamped on Michael Olise’s foot inside the area. This time, the decision went the way of the hosts, providing the golden opportunity to break the deadlock. Kylian Mbappé took the responsibility and, with immense composure, coolly converted the penalty in the 55th minute, Panenka style.

This goal finally shattered Ukraine’s resistance, making the score 1-0. Mykhavko, responsible for the foul, was immediately booked with a yellow card in the 56th minute. Mbappé, buoyed by the goal, tried another shot from a tight angle in the 58th minute, but it flew wide of the post.

The French coach made a double substitution in the 66th minute, bringing on Hugo Ekitike and Maghnes Akliouche for Bradley Barcola and Rayan Cherki, seeking to maintain offensive momentum and energy. Ukraine also made a double change, with Vladyslav Vanat and Mykola Shaparenko replacing Oleksiy Hutsuliak and Oleg Ocheretko in the 67th minute.

The changes soon after started to pay dividends for France’s attacking thrust. In the 70th minute, Hugo Ekitike, fresh on the field, was slipped in by Olise but could only fire his effort agonisingly onto the post, narrowly missing a chance to double the lead. Ukraine’s frustration led to another yellow card for Yehor Yarmoliuk in the 73rd minute.

The substitutions continued in the 75th minute as Ukraine introduced Viktor Tsygankov and Oleksandr Zubkov for Roman Yaremchuk and Taras Mykhavko, desperately trying to find a route back into the game. However, the changes did not stem the French tide. In the 76th minute, Michael Olise scored France’s second goal. Receiving a pass from N’Golo Kanté, Olise displayed quick feet to swivel and fire a precise finish into the bottom-left corner, cementing France’s control at 2-0.

With the win looking secure, France made another substitution, bringing on Warren Zaïre-Emery for Manu Koné in the 80th minute. The final minutes saw two quick goals to complete the rout. In the 83rd minute, Kylian Mbappé grabbed his second goal. The goal came from a close-range tap-in after Hugo Ekitike’s initial effort was smothered by the goalkeeper, showcasing Mbappé’s predatory instinct.

The scoring was then completed in the 88th minute by substitute Hugo Ekitike, who scored his first international goal. Ekitike executed a neat one-two with Mbappé before sweeping his composed finish past Trubin, making the final score 4-0. As the clock wound down, France made their final double substitution, bringing on Christopher Nkunku and Malo Gusto for Michael Olise and Jules Koundé in the 89th minute. The full-time whistle confirmed the decisive 4-0 victory for France, which successfully secured their place in the 2026 World Cup