France began its World Cup qualifying campaign in style on Friday night, defeating Ukraine 2-0 in a commanding performance at the Stade de France. Early precision from Michael Olise and a decisive late strike from Kylian Mbappe sealed the victory for Didier Deschamps’s side.
Mbappe’s 82nd-minute finish not only confirmed the three points but also carried historical significance. Set up by Real Madrid teammate Aurelien Tchouameni on a swift counterattack, the Paris-born striker netted his 51st international goal.
That milestone drew him level with Thierry Henry on France’s all-time scoring chart, just six shy of record-holder Olivier Giroud. France wasted no time imposing their authority. Just 10 minutes into the contest, Michael Olise capped a sweeping move by converting Bradley Barcola’s precise pass.
The Crystal Palace winger’s sharp finish gave Les Bleus an early cushion and set the tone for the opening half. Only the reflexes of Ukraine goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin prevented further damage, denying Olise a second goal and later blocking an Ousmane Dembele effort after a delicate chipped pass from Tchouameni.
Dembele, however, endured a difficult evening. Having missed training earlier in the week with a thigh problem, the Barcelona winger aggravated the same injury after coming on for Desire Doue at halftime. Doue himself was forced off with a calf knock before the break. Dembele lasted only until the 81st minute, eventually replaced by Hugo Ekitike, who made his senior debut.
While France controlled the first half with slick interplay in a 4-2-3-1 setup, Ukraine offered a sterner challenge after the interval. Dangerous crosses unsettled the French defense, and the visitors came within inches of leveling.
Ibrahima Konate cleared off the line from Ivan Kalyuzhnyi before Illia Zabarnyi rattled Mike Maignan’s post, sending a wave of tension through the home support.
That moment proved the turning point. Moments later, France executed a devastating counterattack. Tchouameni surged forward and released Mbappe, who raced clear of his marker before drilling a low shot past Trubin to double the lead.
From there, Deschamps’s men closed out the contest with composure, never looking in danger of surrendering their advantage.
The win gives France an early boost in Group D, where Ukraine was expected to be its toughest rival. The group also features Iceland, who hammered Azerbaijan 5-0 earlier in the day, and the Azeris themselves. France now looks ahead to hosting Iceland in Paris on Tuesday, while Ukraine travels to Baku in search of their first points.
For Mbappe, the night was another reminder of his place among the greats of French football. Equalling Henry’s tally at just 26 years old, he continues his march toward Giroud’s all-time record.
For Deschamps, the performance offered both reassurance of France’s firepower and a reminder of the physical toll international duty can exact, with injuries to Dembele and Doue tempering an otherwise satisfying evening.
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