Mateta scores, but France lose their magic in Reykjavik!
Cold Night, Hot Drama!
It was supposed to be the night France booked their World Cup ticket. Instead, it turned into a frozen nightmare in Reykjavik.
Jean-Philippe Mateta’s first international goal wasn’t enough as Iceland fought back to draw 2–2 in a thrilling clash that left Didier Deschamps’ men frustrated and shivering in the Arctic air.
Les Bleus, chasing their fifth straight win in qualifying, saw their perfect record melt away in the Icelandic chill.
The Chill of Reality
France came into the match knowing a win — plus a slip from Ukraine — would seal qualification for the 2026 World Cup in North America.
But football rarely follows the script.
As France drew in Reykjavik, Ukraine beat Azerbaijan 2–1, keeping the group alive and the champagne on ice.
Early Shock! Iceland Strike First
The warning signs came early.
France started brightly — Christopher Nkunku could have scored inside two minutes — but Iceland struck first when Victor Palsson pounced on sloppy defending to poke home before halftime.
The crowd erupted. Iceland smelt blood.
Nkunku & Mateta Turn It Around
France hit back with fire.
Nkunku — making his return to the lineup — finally got his goal, curling a beautiful low shot into the far corner to level the score.
Moments later, debutant Jean-Philippe Mateta completed the turnaround. The striker slid in at the far post to tap home Maghnes Akliouche’s perfect cross.
From 1–0 down to 2–1 up — it looked like job done for Les Bleus.
But Iceland Refused to Melt
The celebration barely ended before Iceland hit back!
Straight from the restart, Albert Gudmundsson sliced open the French defence with one pass, and Kristian Hlynsson ran through unmarked to slot home the equaliser.
France froze. The Icelandic crowd roared like thunder.
Deschamps could only look on as his team — missing stars like Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Aurelien Tchouameni — lost control.
Mateta’s Mixed Emotions
For Mateta, it was a night of pride and frustration.
“It’s always a big moment to score for France,” he said after the game. “But we wanted the win. We could have done better.”
Still, his first goal in his first start is a sign of promise — and maybe a glimpse of France’s next great striker.
The Road Ahead
France remain top of Group D, three points clear of Ukraine, with two games to go. One win in Paris next month would seal the deal.
But the Reykjavik slip showed the giants are human — and Iceland, once again, proved they can punch above their weight.
Can France find their fire again before the World Cup? Or will the ice of Iceland haunt them longer than expected?
