Led, jostled and reduced to ten, France still beats Iceland 2-1 and full of points. The main thing is there.
The main thing is assured, but it was laborious! Four days after its inaugural success in Ukraine, the French team fulfilled its contract by chaining a second victory against Iceland (2-1), but after a crisling and nervous evening at the Parc des Princes. Led following an individual error, jostled by valiant Nordic and ending to ten against eleven, the Blues gave it back to the talent of their individualities to tear a victory from forceps. A victory that allows them to fill up on points and open a boulevard towards the World Cup.
Blues in the Nordic trap
Because the announced trap match almost closed on a French team diminished by absences and lack of serenity. Despite an almost constant territorial domination, Didier Deschamps' men have long stumbled on an Icelandic wall and on a goalkeeper, ólafsson, in a state of grace. Worse, on a poorly guaranteed side pass from Michael Olise, the Habs offered on a set the opening of the score in Gudjohnsen (21st). An unexpected gift that highlighted a surprising feverishness and nervousness.
Mbappé and Barcola force the decision
It was necessary to recover, as often, to the talent to get out of the rut. After seeing Thuram twice and Koné collide with the excellent Icelandic goalkeeper, it was this same Thuram who obtained a saving penalty just before the break. Kylian Mbappé did not tremble and put the two teams on a par, immense relief for a park that was starting to doubt. French perseverance was finally paid at the time of play. On a lightning acceleration which he has the secret, Mbappé served on a plateau Bradley Barcola who only had to conclude to give a final advantage to his own (62nd).
Mbappé and Barcola save bruises jostled and reduced to ten
A victory in forceps, cold sweats until the end
We then thought the Blues released, but the evening was far from over. The direct expulsion of Aurélien Tchouameni for a nasty sole (67th) was going to dive France in a high -tension end of the match. Reduced to ten, the tricolors fell and even had huge cold sweats when Gudjohnsen, again, scored a second goal, fortunately and logically canceled for a hand (86th). The Blues have narrowly escaped an equalization which would not have been a scandal as Iceland sold its skin dearly.
Six points, and that's it
Didier Deschamps can blow. With six out of six possible points in this September rally, the accounting operation is a total success and the road to the 2026 World Cup is clear. There remains the content: this victory torn in pain, facing an Icelandic team that would have deserved the draw, highlighted the shortcomings and the nervousness of a French team in reconstruction. The main thing is done, of course, but it will be necessary to show much more mastery and serenity in the future.
