The national team of Ukraine lost in a friendly match to the current world champion, the team of France

08.10.2020 01:59

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

On the eve of two matches in the League of Nations, with Germany and Spain, the blue and yellows played a friendly match with the current world champions.

Due to injuries and positive tests for coronavirus in the groups of performers, the national team of Ukraine got into an emergency situation - more than half of the main team was out of the game, and the reserve coach Oleksandr Shovkovsky was declared the reserve goalkeeper. But the fight, which was postponed due to a pandemic in the spring, still took place, which in itself was a remarkable achievement.

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

In the starting lineup of Andriy Shevchenko's team there were four absolute debutants - Bushchan, Konoplya, Zabarny and Zubkov, and the most experienced among the players - Andriy Yarmolenko - took the position of forward. In the opening minutes, the Ukrainians tried to establish control of the ball, even without much progress, but the French did not allow opponents to combine freely. Turning on the speed, the tricolors began to free themselves from burns and organized a quick goal. After a canopy from the left flank, Giroud hit his head almost close, Bushchan parried the shot, but 17-year-old Camavinga was the first to catch up and threw the ball into the far corner. 1: 0.

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

Feeling confident, the hosts did not let go of the opponent. Their attacks repeatedly ended in sharp moments, the blue and yellows did not have time to cover their opponents. In the middle of the first half, the experienced forward of the French national team Giroud, who played the 100th match for the national team, made a gift for the anniversary, making a double at the gate of Bushchan. At first, Olivier scored from outside the penalty area, and then successfully played on the finish. In both cases, Mykolenko lost his guardian, who also scored an own goal after the French corner. In addition, Bushchan rescued his team several more times, repelling dangerous tricolor strikes.

However, despite the score of 4: 0 in the first 45 minutes, in fact, not everything was so bleak. The Blue and Yellows also managed several very good attacks, in particular, Malinowski had three real chances to score. In one episode, after a great pass from the flank by Mykhailychenko, he missed from a deadly position, and twice more Mandanda managed his branded shots. 

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

During the break, both coaches made a number of substitutions, and the Ukrainians got another debutant - Cheberko. At the beginning of the second half, Shevchenko's charges showed a good ability to use free zones, which the French left behind during their attacks, due to quick counterattacks. Yarmolenko broke away from the guardians, but did not hit the near corner, and then Tsygankov soaked the score, ending his pass by hitting the very rack. Soon Zubkov scored in the frame of the goal, and for a while the game calmed down.

However, acting casually and loosely, the French team managed to increase its gap. Tolisso scored in the bottom corner from outside the penalty area after a discount Mbappe, and then the star striker of "PSG" broke away from the defenders and scored a shot under the crossbar. In addition, Griezmann upset Bushchan, who was helped by a ricochet. 1: 7 - a painful defeat of the Ukrainian national team, which found itself in difficult circumstances.

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

Friendly Match

France - Ukraine - 7: 1 (4: 0)

Goals: Kamavinga (9), Zhiru (24, 34), Mykolenko (39, own goal), Tolisso (65), Mbappe (82), Griezmann (89) - Tsygankov (52).

France: Mandanda (Menyang, 46), Ding, Langley, Upamecano (Varane, 46), Cook, Auar (Pogba, 60), Tolisso, Camavinga (Griezmann, 60), N'Zonzi, Giroud (Ben Yedder, 74) , Marseille (Mbappe, 46).

Substitutions: Lloris, Kimpembe, Coman, Cante, Hernandez.

Trainer: Didier Deschamps.

Ukraine: Bushchan, Konoplya, Zabarny, Mykolenko (Cheberko, 46), Mykhaylichenko (Sobol, 46), Makarenko (Shepelev, 62), Malinovsky (Tsygankov, 46), Kharatin, Shaparenko, Zubkov (Bezus, 71), Yarmolenko (k) Yaremchuk, 62).

Substitutions: Shovkovsky, Plastun, Sidorchuk, Karavaev.

Trainer: Andrii Shevchenko.

Referee: Andris Treimanis (Latvia).

Booked: Malinowski (43), Kharatin (50), Hemp (61).

October 7. Saint-Denis. Stade de France.