Ice(land) too cold for France: seven-minute party for party in the group

The French national team even had a chance to secure their ticket to the World Cup in Iceland. For that to happen, they needed a win against the hosts and for Ukraine to drop points against Azerbaijan. Neither scenario unfolded. Iceland stood their ground and showed that even French side (in this match significantly weakened) has its vulnerabilities.

France entered the match as clear favorites, but the first half in Reykjavik turned into a frustrating 45 minutes for Les Bleus, who wasted several big chances before Iceland struck against the run of play.

The visitors could have been ahead inside two minutes when Nkunku found himself just two meters from goal after a corner, but Olafsson pulled off a superb reflex save to deny him. Ten minutes later, Mateta tried his luck with a header from Kone’s cross, though it lacked both power and precision.

In the 15th minute, Kounde’s deflected shot almost caught the Icelandic keeper off guard, but Olafsson was once again in the right place. Mateta had another golden chance in the 21st minute when Olise set him up five meters from goal, only for the striker to fire wide.

Then came the punishment. In the 39th minute, Iceland took a surprising lead — Palsson reacted quickest after a chaotic set-piece. The ball ricocheted off Camavinga inside the six-yard box, and Palsson poked it past Maignan to make it 1–0. The goal is HERE!

France tried to respond before the break, but Thauvin’s long-range strike in the 43rd minute was weak and easily gathered by Olafsson. Deep into stoppage time, the visitors had their best chance of the half: Olise was first denied by Olafsson, and the rebound fell to Mateta, who beat the keeper — only for Ellertsson to make a heroic clearance on the line.

The second half in Reykjavik brought the excitement that the first 45 minutes lacked, with both sides trading goals in a fast-paced and dramatic spell.

In the 58th minute, Thauvin attempted a spectacular bicycle kick, but his effort flew narrowly wide of Olafsson’s goal. Just three minutes later, Nkunku found himself in a near-identical position to his early first-half miss — unmarked inside the box — yet this time he sent the ball high over the bar from just five meters out.

Redemption came quickly. In the 63rd minute, Nkunku made a brilliant solo run down the left flank and struck from a tight angle, finding the inside of the post to level the score at 1–1 — his second goal for the French national team. The goal is HERE!

France continued to push forward, and in the 68th minute they turned the game around. After Digne’s powerful long-range effort was saved in the 67th, Akliouche whipped in a precise cross two minutes later, finding Jean-Philippe Mateta, who calmly finished from close range for his first-ever goal in a France shirt, putting Les Bleus 2–1 up. The goal is HERE!

However, Iceland responded almost immediately. Just two minutes later, in the 70th minute, they launched a lightning-fast counterattack — Gudmundsson played a perfect through ball to Hlynsson, who found himself one-on-one with Maignan and coolly slotted home to make it 2–2. The goal is HERE!

WC QUALIFIERS - EUROPE

Monday

Iceland - France 2-2 (1-0)

/Palsson 39, Hlynsson 70 - Nkunku 63, Mateta 68/

North Macedonia - Kazakhstan 1-1 (0-0)

/Bardhi 74 - Karaman 54/

Northern Ireland - Germany 0-1 (0-1)

/Woltemade 31/

Slovakia - Luxembourg 2-0 (0-0)

/Obert 55, Schranz 72/

Slovenia - Switzerland (0-0)

Sweden - Kosovo* 0-1 (0-1)

/Asllani 32/

Ukraine - Azerbaijan 2-1 (1-1)

/Gutsulyak 30, Malinovskyi 64 - Akhundzade 45+3/

Wales - Belgium 2-4 (1-2)

/Rodon 8, Broadhead 89 - De Bruyne 18 pen, 76 pen, Meunier 24, Trossard 90/