France-Iceland: Highlights of Les Bleus' victory, as they move closer to qualifying for the 2026 World Cup
The French team will have to confirm this in its next matches in October, but it has just taken a big step towards qualifying for the next Football World Cup (June 11-July 19, 2026). Four days after its success against Ukraine (2-0) , it won in a difficult way against Iceland (2-1), Tuesday, September 9, at the Parc des Princes, in Paris, thanks to goals from Kylian Mbappé (45th) and Bradley Barcola (62nd).
Not everything was perfect against the Icelanders, who were saved for a long time by their goalkeeper, Elias Olafsson, and who had taken the lead through Andri Gudjohnsen, after an error by Michael Olise (21st).
But the French, who finished the match with a man down after Aurélien Tchouaméni's dismissal, found the resources to turn the score around and take the lead in Group D ahead of Iceland. Didier Deschamps' players will face Azerbaijan and then Iceland again in October.
As against Ukraine, the French captain wasn't at his best, but it was once again he who made the difference. Kylian Mbappé equalized and scored his fifty-second international goal from the penalty spot, before providing an assist for Bradley Barcola, taking advantage of the space behind the Icelandic defense and his pace, which remains his main strength.
0-1, 21st: Pressed by Isak Johannesson at the edge of the French penalty area, Michael Olise misses a back pass which Andri Gudjohnsen takes advantage of to beat Mike Maignan with the outside of his right foot.
1-1, 45th: Following a foul by Mikael Anderson on Marcus Thuram in the Icelandic penalty area, the French team wins a penalty which Kylian Mbappé converts with a counter-kick.
2-1, 62nd minute: On a long ball from Aurélien Tchouaméni, Kylian Mbappé takes advantage of the poor alignment of the Icelandic defense to go deep and serve Bradley Barcola, who only has to score with a flat foot.
2-1, 68th: following an uncontrolled tackle on Jon Thorsteinsson, Aurélien Tchouaméni is sent off by the referee.
