France player ratings vs Iceland: No Kylian Mbappe, no party
France were held to a 2-2 draw by a brave Iceland side in Reykjavik, as an experimental XI floundered under the pressure of their bold opponents, who belied their pre-match underdogs tag. Both sides felt they could win the game, but neither were able to do so as Iceland held out to earn a valuable point.
Didier Deschamps' men were held to a 2-2 draw by a brave Iceland side in Reykjavik, as an experimental XI floundered under the pressure of their bold opponents, who belied their pre-match underdogs tag. France did score twice, coming from behind in the process, but a lack of concentration allowed the hosts to take a well-deserved point from a breathless encounter. Within three minutes, Christopher Nkunku had a glaring chance to give France the lead, as the ball fell to him at the back post, but his effort was well-saved.Iceland enjoyed a fine spell midway through the first half but Michael Olise caused panic in the backline with a wicked free-kick delivery just past the half-hour point, as goalkeeper Elias Olafsson flapped at the delivery and conceded a corner. But it was a wicked delivery from the home side that proved decisive, as France failed to deal with a free-kick conceded by William Saliba - the ball appeared to get caught under Eduardo Camavinga's foot - and Victor Palsson was alert enough to poke the ball beyond Mike Maignan, prompting a remarkable reaction in Reykjavik. Before half-time, Jean-Philippe Mateta's shot from point-blank range was cleared off the line, after Olafsson saved a fine header from Michael Olise. On the hour mark, Nkunku had another huge chance, again at the back post, again from a set-piece, but his effort was wild, and flew high into the Icelandic night. He would not be denied, and within minutes, he equalised, as he cut in from the left flank and fired into the bottom corner. France completed their comeback in the 68th minute, as substitute Maghnes Akliouche found Mateta, who finished from close-range, scoring his first France goal. Amazingly, within 60 seconds, Iceland were level again, as Albert Gudmundsson sprang beyond the offside trap and fed Kristian Hlynsson, who powered a finish high into the roof of the net. Both sides felt they could win the game, but neither were able to do so, as Iceland held out to earn a valuable point. GOAL rates France's players from Laugardalsvöllur...
Player Ratings
France's performance against Iceland was a mixed bag, with some players standing out while others struggled to make an impact. Let's look at how each individual fared during the World Cup qualifier.
Christopher Nkunku's Missed Chances
Christopher Nkunku had two golden opportunities to score for France but failed to convert both times, missing crucial chances that could have changed the game in France's favor.
Iceland's Resilience
Iceland displayed great resilience and determination throughout the match, refusing to be overawed by the French team. Their ability to bounce back quickly after conceding goals was commendable.
Mateta's Debut Goal
Jean-Philippe Mateta scored his first goal for France, showing composure in front of goal to level the score for his team. It was a memorable moment for the debutant striker.
End-to-End Action
The match provided end-to-end action with both teams creating numerous goal-scoring opportunities. The intensity of the game kept viewers on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.
Conclusion
In the end, both France and Iceland had to settle for a draw in what was a thrilling encounter. While France showed glimpses of their quality, Iceland's determination and resilience earned them a well-deserved point. It was a result that neither team will be completely satisfied with, but one that sets up an intriguing rematch in the future.
