Ukraine and France are poised for a crucial World Cup qualifying match in Wroclaw. France, despite a challenging Nations League campaign, aims to secure a top spot in their group. Ukraine, seeking their first automatic qualification, faces pressure to win. Key player absences impact both teams, with France missing Saliba and Ukraine without Lunin. France’s strong historical record and World Cup pedigree contrast Ukraine’s determined challenge, setting the stage for a tactical and high-stakes encounter.
In a highly anticipated World Cup qualifier, Ukraine and France are set to clash in Wroclaw this Friday evening. This match marks the beginning of their journey towards securing a coveted spot in the 2026 World Cup, and the stakes are undeniably high.
France, having recently participated in the UEFA Nations League finals, finds itself in a smaller, more concentrated qualifying group. This unique format means that the outcome of their qualification campaign will be determined within a tight, three-month window, adding an extra layer of pressure to each match.
Ukraine enters this crucial opener with a palpable sense of urgency. Anything short of a victory could significantly jeopardize their chances of topping the group and securing automatic qualification—a feat that has long eluded them. Their history in playoffs, marked by three losses in the last four attempts, underscores the critical importance of a strong start. While Ukraine has been a consistent presence at the Euros, including the upcoming Euro 2024, their World Cup appearances have been less frequent. They famously reached the quarter-finals in 2006 but have struggled to replicate that success since. Their recent Euros campaign highlighted their vulnerability, with four points not enough to advance due to a damaging 3-0 defeat to Romania. The team's inconsistency has continued under Sergiy Rebrov, with disappointing performances in the Nations League and a playoff loss to Belgium, despite holding a significant first-leg advantage.
The team's recent tour of North America further underscored their unpredictability, with a heavy 4-2 loss to Canada followed by a narrow 2-1 victory over New Zealand. Amid these fluctuating performances, milestones beckon for Illia Zabarnyi and Vitaliy Mykolenko, both poised to reach 50 caps this month, providing a silver lining amidst the challenges.
Ukraine faces notable absences, including Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, paving the way for Anatoliy Trubin to start between the posts. Oleksandr Tymchyk is also sidelined. Benfica's Georgiy Sudakov will face a stern test against elite opposition, while striker Artem Dovbyk aims to redeem himself after a period on the sidelines at Roma.
This qualifying campaign marks a significant chapter for France as it will be the last under the guidance of Didier Deschamps, who has announced his departure after the World Cup finals in North America next summer. The 2018 champions are determined to add another trophy to their cabinet under his leadership, especially after falling short in the Nations League earlier this year. France's recent Nations League campaign was filled with drama, including a remarkable quarter-final victory over Croatia on penalties after overturning a 2-0 first-leg deficit. However, they suffered a setback with a 5-4 defeat to Spain in the semi-finals, despite a late comeback attempt. A 2-0 victory over Germany in the third-place playoff offered some consolation after their defensive collapse against Spain.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Deschamps' future, France's recent record remains impressive. Since the 2022 World Cup final, only Germany, Spain, Italy, and Croatia have managed to defeat them. Their path to North America appears secure, but they face a potentially tricky start against Ukraine, even on neutral ground in Wroclaw. A victory would immediately solidify their position as Group C favorites.
France has a strong World Cup pedigree, having not missed a tournament since 1994. Their record includes two titles and two further final appearances since 1998, overshadowing the disappointments of 2002 and 2010. Historically, France has a favorable record against Ukraine, losing only once in 12 encounters—in the first leg of the 2014 playoff—before turning the tie around in Paris. More recently, a 7-1 friendly win in 2020 was followed by two draws in 2022 World Cup qualifying matches.
France will be without William Saliba due to a muscle injury sustained in Arsenal's loss to Liverpool, while Rayan Cherki has also withdrawn. Hugo Ekitike, along with Maghnes Akliouche, is in line to potentially make his debut. Adrien Rabiot remains part of the squad despite his recent transfer from Marseille. However, Warren Zaire-Emery, Randal Kolo Muani, and Matteo Guendouzi are absent compared to the squad that participated in June's Nations League finals.
France faces a challenging opening test, but securing even a single point from this match would position them favorably in the group. Victories against Iceland and Azerbaijan, both at home and away, are widely anticipated later in the campaign. Ukraine demonstrated their ability to compete with France by holding them to draws in both encounters during the 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign. Despite their mixed recent form, Ukraine possesses the quality to challenge France once again, making this a must-watch encounter for football fans.