Foot: France stalls in Ukraine in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup
Antoine Griezmann in a 1-1 draw for France's football team in Ukraine in 2022 World Cup qualifying. DeFodi Images via Getty Images - DeFodi Images
Text by: David Kalfa Follow
2 min
The French football team was held to a 1-1 check in Ukraine, on September 4, 2021 in Kiev, in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup. This is the fifth draw in a row for the Blues in all competitions.
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Three years after its title of world champion, the French football team seems to be going through a crisis of confidence and results.
This September 4, 2021, the Blues have chained a fifth draw, Euro 2021 and qualifications for the 2022 World Cup combined, and this three days after stalling at home against Bosnia-Herzegovina (1-1).
The French certainly remain first in Group D, in the World Cup qualifiers, before facing Finland on September 7.
But their performance on September 4 in Ukraine is not likely to reassure their supporters.
Shaparenko punishes the Blues
In the first period, the two selections have clear opportunities.
Striker Antoine Griezmann narrowly misses the part of a half-volley (27th) while that of winger Andriy Yarmolenko forces the tricolor goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to a beautiful parade.
In the 44th minute, it was center-forward Anthony Martial who lost a face-to-face with Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov.
On the following counterattack, Mykola Shaparenko punishes this lack of realism on the part of the visitors.
Taking advantage of a ball randomly dismissed by defender Kurt Zouma, the attacking midfielder sends him to the back of the net with a powerful strike (1-0, 44 ').
In the second period, fortunately for Didier Deschamps and his players, a mess in the Ukrainian area allows Martial to force the equalizer, at close range: 1-1, 50th.
In the 77th minute, striker Moussa Diaby even had the victory ball at the end of his foot.
But this hits the right amount of Ukraine.
A 2-1 win in Kiev would have been flattering for the France team.
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