The first leg of the 2014 World Cup play-offs turned into a nightmarish scenario for the French team, facing a formidable Ukrainian side that displayed aggression and skill. Despite the warning from Didier Deschamps about potential criticism, the disappointment was palpable as the Blues struggled against a well-organized Ukrainian team.
Franck Ribéry performed below his usual standards, contributing to France’s disillusionment in a hard-fought first half that ended without goals. The situation worsened in the second half when Zozulya managed to escape Abidal’s marking, executing a one-two with Yarmolenko before beating Hugo Lloris. The Blues attempted to mount a comeback, but their efforts were in vain.
Abidal narrowly escaped conceding a penalty, and Laurent Koscielny was less fortunate, committing a mistake in the penalty area that allowed Yarmolenko to score and increase Ukraine’s lead. Koscielny received a red card towards the end of the match, leaving France with only 10 players on the field. Kucher from the Ukrainian side also received a red card but later than his teammates.
Despite these setbacks, Ukraine withstood the pressure, securing a 2-0 victory and placing themselves in a favorable position for the return match on Tuesday. The disaster scenario is looming for France, and the challenge of scoring three goals without conceding at the Stade de France seems daunting. The football community awaits the outcome of the return leg with bated breath, and Didier Deschamps acknowledges the storm of criticism that may follow if the qualification bid falls short.
