France vs Ukraine – International Friendly Preview

France vs Ukraine – International Friendly Preview

Mark Temnycky –

France vs Ukraine – Wednesday, 7 October 2020 – 20:00 GMT/21:00 CEST – Stade de France, Paris, France

After a successful international break in September, and with some coronavirus restrictions being lifted, UEFA has opted to proceed with the October international break. France will host Ukraine in an international friendly in Paris on Wednesday, 7 October.

France have continued their strong run in international football after winning the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Les Bleus were paired with the Netherlands and Germany in the inaugural 2018/19 UEFA Nations League. While they missed out on the Nations League finals due to goal difference, the Frenchmen demonstrated why they are still a powerful side. Moving on to the Euro 2020 qualification period, the French topped their group. Finally, as they compete in the 2020/21 UEFA Nations League, they are currently tied for first with Portugal.

They will now use this international friendly to showcase their might. Initially scheduled for March 2020, this international friendly was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. France will face Portugal and Sweden later this month in the Nations League. This friendly against Ukraine will help them prepare for these important matches.

It has been a considerable amount of time since France faced Ukraine. The two teams competed against one another for a place at the 2014 FIFA World Cup during a two-legged playoff in November 2013. The Frenchmen were humbled in Ukraine, where the Zbirna won 2-0, but Les Bleus overcame this deficit at the Stade de France by winning 3-0. While the drama of this international friendly will not be on par with the playoff match that was held seven years ago, this friendly should still be a good showing.

Meanwhile, Ukraine have also had a memorable run in recent years. Following their missed opportunity to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Ukraine topped their group in the inaugural 2018/19 UEFA Nations League by defeating the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The result meant that they would be promoted to the prestigious League A, where they would compete with some of Europe’s heavy hitters. This would present the Ukrainians with a new opportunity to further develop the team.

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Ukraine then went on to have their most successful season in their history as an independent country. Ukraine went undefeated in the 2019 calendar year, and they won their Euro 2020 qualification group. The Ukrainians won six of their eight qualification matches and drew the other two. They kept five clean sheets in this process, conceded only four goals in eight matches, and they overcame Portugal and Serbia to win the group.

The Zbirna, however, have been dealt a massive blow as several of their players have withdrawn from the squad. These footballers, primarily from Shakhtar Donetsk, have either tested positive for the coronavirus pandemic, or they have withdrawn as a precaution. As a result, the Ukrainian national team will be depleted as they take on France in this international friendly. 

France vs Ukraine – Players to Watch:

Anthony Martial #11 – France (Manchester United)

After a frustrating 2019 season, Anthony Martial will hope to become a regular for the French senior men’s national team. Should he start, Martial will look to put in a solid performance to demonstrate why he should be selected as one of Frances main strikers ahead of the 2021 European Championships.

Anthony Martial - France vs Ukraine

France’s forward Anthony Martial will be a danger to Ukraine, Wednesday night (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

Georgiy Bushchan #1 – Ukraine (Dynamo Kyiv)

With the announcement that goalkeepers Andriy Pyatov, Andriy Lunin, and Yuriy Pankiv have withdrawn from the squad as they have tested positive for the coronavirus, Georgiy Bushchan will be handed his first international debut. The Ukrainian goalkeeper will have to adjust quickly as his national team prepare for their matches against Germany and Spain shortly after this international friendly with France.

Georgiy Bushchan - France vs Ukraine

Ukraine’s goalkeeper Georgiy Bushchan (R) smiles during a training session at the Stade de France stadium. (Photo: FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

France vs Ukraine – Match Statistics:

  • France have faced Ukraine on nine occasions. The Frenchmen have won five, drawn three, and lost once.
  • The most recent encounter between these two teams was during the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification playoffs. France lost the first leg 0-2 but then defeated Ukraine in the second leg 3-0.
  • France were placed with Sweden, Croatia, and Portugal in the UEFA Nations League’s Group 3 in League A.
  • Ukraine were placed with Germany, Spain, Switzerland in the UEFA Nations League’s Group 4 in League A.

Futbolgrad Network Prediction: France vs Ukraine – 4-1

France vs Ukraine – Possible Lineups:

France

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Mandanda – Pavard, Varane, Lenglet, Digne – Pogba, Tolisso – Mbappe, Griezmann, Coman – Ben Yedder

Manager: Didier Deschamps

Ukraine

Formation: 4-3-3

Bushchan – Karavayev, Plastun, Mykolenko, Sobol – Shaparenko, Sydorchuk, Malinovskyi – Yarmolenko, Yaremchuk, Tsygankov

Manager: Andriy Shevchenko

Mark Temnycky is an AIPS accredited journalist who covers the Ukrainian men’s national team and Ukrainian clubs competing in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League for the Futbolgrad Network. Follow him @MTemnycky

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