France faced a surprising challenge from Iceland in their fourth match of the UEFA World Cup Qualifiers for the 2026 tournament, as the two sides ended up sharing the spoils in a thrilling 2-2 draw. After three consecutive victories, Les Bleus were on the brink of securing their spot for next year’s World Cup. The 2018 champions had previously edged past Iceland with a narrow 2-1 win, a match that saw Aurelien Tchouameni receive a red card. However, this time, they would find themselves battling against an inspired Icelandic side.
French captain and Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé was nursing a knock sustained in their last outing against Azerbaijan, where he had scored in ten consecutive matches across all competitions. Coach Didier Deschamps opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Jean-Philippe Mateta spearheading the attack and Florian Thauvin starting after his impressive goal against Azerbaijan. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, France found themselves trailing at halftime after Victor Palsson capitalized on a loose ball from a set-piece to put Iceland ahead in the 39th minute.
Turning Point in the Second Half
The second half saw a dramatic turnaround as France came out with renewed vigor. Just after the hour mark, Christopher Nkunku leveled the score with a well-placed shot before Mateta netted his first international goal to put Les Bleus ahead. However, their lead was short-lived as Kristian Hlynsson equalized for Iceland just two minutes later. Remarkably, Iceland managed to score from their only two shots on target, exposing vulnerabilities in the French defense during transitional play.
Cameo of Eduardo Camavinga
Eduardo Camavinga, returning from injury, showcased his exceptional talent as part of France’s double pivot alongside Manu Kone. His ability to break lines and progress the ball was evident throughout the match. Camavinga’s pass to Maghnes Akliouche served as the pre-assist for France’s second goal, highlighting his vision and technical prowess. The Real Madrid midfielder completed 73 of his 79 passes, including all four long balls and five progressive passes. Defensively, he was equally impressive, covering significant ground and executing crucial tackles that disrupted Iceland’s counter-attacks.
The draw means that France will have to wait until November to officially secure their place at the FIFA World Cup in the USA next year. With valuable minutes under his belt, Camavinga is expected to return to Madrid rejuvenated and ready to contribute significantly as Xabi Alonso‘s side heads into a pivotal part of their season.
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