Key Takeaways:
- France battled back from a goal down to defeat Iceland 2:1 at the Parc des Princes last night
- Aurélien Tchouaméni received a straight red card in the 67th minute, forcing France to play with ten men
- Les Bleus now top Group D with six points, while Iceland stay second on three points
Match Summary and Turning Points
France secured their second consecutive victory in Group D World Cup qualifying, overcoming early adversity to prevail 2:1 over Iceland at the Parc des Princes. Though the visitors grabbed the lead in the 22nd minute through Andri Gudjohnsen, the hosts responded with a penalty from Kylian Mbappé on the stroke of half-time and a decisive strike by Bradley Barcola in the 62nd minute. Didier Deschamps’ side were forced to defend resolutely after Aurélien Tchouaméni’s red card in the 67th minute, and survived a late Iceland surge that included a disallowed goal in the 88th minute.
France edge Iceland to keep their World Cup qualifying run on track 🚀 pic.twitter.com/MAu36ebJCF
— OneFootball (@OneFootball) September 9, 2025
Line-ups and Tactical Setup
Didier Deschamps deployed Kylian Mbappé at the front of the attack, supported by Marcus Thuram, Bradley Barcola, and Michael Olise in advanced roles. Manu Koné partnered Aurélien Tchouaméni in holding midfield.
Iceland featured Andri Gudjohnsen and Daniel Gudjohnsen up front, with Mikael Anderson and Jón Thorsteinsson providing width. Hakon Haraldsson and Isak Johannesson occupied central midfield positions.
Key Match Events and Opportunities
France began assertively, with Mbappé trying his luck in the second minute, though his effort lacked sufficient power to trouble Iceland goalkeeper Elias Olafsson. The visitors retaliated via a long-range attempt from Isak Johannesson, but Mike Maignan handled it comfortably.
The action quickly shifted, as Manu Koné shot over in the ensuing minutes. The hosts should have taken the lead in the 15th minute, when Olise found Thuram through on goal, only for Olafsson to deny the striker. Another opportunity followed for Thuram in the 19th minute, but his header was off target.
Iceland capitalised on a defensive error by Michael Olise in the 22nd minute. Under pressure in his own area, the Bayern Munich winger misplayed a back pass which Andri Gudjohnsen intercepted and converted for 0:1.
France pushed for an equaliser, with chances falling to Mbappé and Thuram, but Olafsson pulled off a crucial double save in the 33rd minute to keep Iceland in front. Barcola also went close before France were awarded a penalty in the 44th minute after Thuram was fouled. Following VAR intervention, Mbappé made no mistake from the spot to bring France level.
Second Half: Dominance, Red Card and Dramatic Finish
Les Bleus resumed on the front foot after half-time. Marcus Thuram saw his attempt saved, while Michael Olise rattled the crossbar in the 53rd minute. Persistence paid off in the 62nd minute when Mbappé surged forward and squared for Barcola to finish into an empty net for 2:1.
The contest took a dramatic turn in the 69th minute as Tchouaméni was shown a straight red for a dangerous challenge, leaving the hosts a man short for the remainder of the match. Nevertheless, France nearly scored again on the counter in the 75th minute, with Mbappé sending his effort well over.
Iceland pressed for an equaliser, finding the net through Gudjohnsen in the 88th minute, but VAR ruled the strike out for a foul in the build-up. In stoppage time, Kristján Hlynsson’s dangerous shot was deflected by a defender, sealing a hard-earned victory for France.
Group D Standings
| Team | Points |
|---|---|
| France | 6 |
| Iceland | 3 |
