France got here from behind and overcame a pink card to safe a hard-fought 2-1 win over Iceland of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on the Parc des Princes as we speak. The outcome stretches Iceland’s winless run towards Les Bleus to 16 video games, with 12 defeats and 4 attracts.
Regardless of being tagged heavy favourites within the video games preview, France made issues extraordinarily tough, and Didier Deschamps’ males had been made to work for the factors, particularly after gifting the guests the lead. Michael Olise’s careless move throughout his personal field was pounced upon by Andri Guðjohnsen, who produced a scientific outside-foot end to silence the Paris crowd. Softfootball reviews that France responded with depth, however Iceland goalkeeper Elías Ólafsson twice denied Marcus Thuram earlier than Manu Koné additionally noticed an effort blocked.
Simply earlier than the interval, France had been handed a lifeline. Thuram was clipped by Mikael Anderson within the space, and Kylian Mbappé calmly transformed the penalty to attract degree. The strike was his 52nd for the nationwide workforce, transferring him into second place on France’s all-time scoring record.
The turnaround was full halfway via the second half. Aurélien Tchouaméni’s exact lengthy ball launched Mbappé, who squared for Bradley Barcola to complete from shut vary. France’s pleasure was tempered quickly after when Tchouaméni was proven a straight pink card for a excessive problem on Jón Dagur Þorsteinsson, leaving the hosts to play the ultimate stretch with ten males.
Iceland sensed a chance and got here shut via Hákon Arnar Haraldsson, who headed narrowly broad from a nook. Guðjohnsen thought he had equalised late on, just for his effort to be dominated out for a foul on Ibrahima Konaté within the build-up.
France will certainly take the outcome; even the workforce’s admin admitted through the workforce’s official X account that they’ll concentrate on the three factors forward of their subsequent recreation in October.
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It was not a classic show from France, however the three factors preserve them good in Group D, sitting three away from Iceland after two matches. For Arnar Gunnlaugsson’s aspect, this slender defeat provided positives as they proceed their push for a second-ever World Cup look.
