France Stunned by Iceland at Halftime in World Cup Qualifier
Reykjavik, Iceland – In a shocking turn of events that has left the French faithful reeling, Didier Deschamps’ star-studded squad finds themselves trailing Iceland by a single goal at halftime of thier 2026 World Cup qualifier. After a perfect start to their qualifying campaign, Les Bleus have been caught off guard by the determined Icelanders, who snatched a late lead against the run of play.
The match, held in Reykjavik, has been a frustrating affair for the French, who came into the fixture boasting three consecutive victories. despite dominating possession and creating several promising chances, they were unable to break down the Icelandic defense. The breakthrough, when it came, was a bitter pill to swallow for the visitors.
Early on, France showed their attacking intent. In the third minute, Jules Koundé’s deflected corner found christopher Nkunku unmarked at the far post.However, his close-range effort was brilliantly parried by the Icelandic goalkeeper, signaling the first of many saves to come. Deschamps’ men gradually settled into the Icelandic half, probing for openings. Koundé himself tested the keeper again in the second half-hour with a shot that took a deflection, forcing another save. Even a speculative, long-range free-kick from Lucas Digne caused a moment of panic for the home side, sailing just over the crossbar.
Michaël Olise, a bright spark for France, carved out a golden opportunity in the 21st minute, threading a pass to Jean-Philippe Mateta. The Crystal Palace striker, however, narrowly missed the target, a recurring theme for the French attack throughout the half. As the half wore on, France’s initial intensity seemed to wane, and Iceland grew into the game.
The decisive moment arrived just before the break. A lapse in concentration from William Saliba on the left flank, resulting in an avoidable foul near Mike Maignan’s penalty area, proved costly. Following a scramble in the box, Victor Palsson found himself in the right place at the right time, poking the ball into the net. the goal sent the home crowd into a frenzy and left the French players looking dejected as they headed into the locker room.
This halftime deficit is a stark reminder that in international football,no opponent can be taken lightly. France will need a significant second-half performance to avoid an upset and maintain their perfect record in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.The question remains: can Les Bleus find their scoring touch and claw their way back into this crucial match?
