In a thrilling clash that had fans on the edge of their seats, ten-man France clawed back from a precarious position to secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Iceland in a gripping 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier. This match marked yet another chapter in Iceland’s frustrating history against Les Bleus, who have now extended their unbeaten streak to 16 encounters against the Nordic side, with Iceland yet to taste victory (four draws and twelve losses).
With a past laden with disappointing results against France, Iceland adopted a defensive strategy that seemed to serve them well early on. France, managed by Didier Deschamps, struggled to penetrate the solid Icelandic backline until a moment of brilliance from Michael Olise set the stage for Marcus Thuram. The Inter Milan forward’s sliding attempt was thwarted by the agile Elias Olafsson, keeping the scoreline level and the pressure mounting on the French side.
Just when it seemed France would break through, disaster struck. Olise, under pressure, played a reckless blind pass in his own penalty area, allowing Andri Gudjohnsen to pounce and deliver a devastating strike with the outside of his right foot, sending shockwaves through the Parc des Princes.
France, now behind, unleashed a flurry of attempts to equalize. Olafsson emerged as a wall, delivering two spectacular saves in quick succession to deny both Thuram and Manu Kone following a beautifully lofted ball into the box by Aurelien Tchouameni. Iceland’s hopes of heading into halftime with their lead intact were dashed when Mikael Anderson was penalized for a foul on Thuram in the box. Kylian Mbappe, cool and collected, stepped up to convert the penalty in first-half stoppage time, marking a significant milestone as he climbed to second place on France’s all-time top goalscorer list with 52 goals.
The second half saw France burst into life, with Olise nearly doubling their lead when his powerful shot struck the crossbar. However, it was Bradley Barcola who ultimately turned the tide, finishing off a slick move initiated by Mbappe, who expertly controlled a long ball from Tchouameni before setting up Barcola for a close-range tap-in.
In a dramatic twist, Tchouameni’s stellar performance took a hit when he received a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Jon Dagur Þorsteinsson, leaving France to fight with ten men. Despite the numerical disadvantage, the French side pressed on, with Mbappe coming close to adding to the score but firing just over from distance.
Tension hung in the air as Iceland sought to mount a late comeback, with Gudjohnsen appearing to bundle the ball home only to be penalized for a foul on Ibrahima Konate, denying the visitors a potential equalizer.
Although this match was not France’s most convincing display, it secured them two wins from their opening two World Cup qualifiers and positioned them three points clear at the top of Group D. Meanwhile, Iceland can hold their heads high after a commendable performance, as they chase their dream of making only their second appearance at a World Cup finals. The clash served as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of football, leaving fans eager for the next chapter in the qualification saga.
