Heavy Loss for Ukraine National Team: Analyzing the First Match of the 2026 World Cup Qualification
On the opening day of the qualification matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Ukraine’s national team suffered a tough defeat against football powerhouse France, marking a significant challenge for Ukrainian players and coaching staff.
Head coach Serhii Rebrov, commenting on the recent match result, noted that his team faced one of the strongest opponents in world football.
He emphasized that the French team possesses a very high skill level, changes the game pace rapidly, and plays with excellent teamwork.
Rebrov pointed out that Ukrainian players did their best, but competing against such a team is extremely difficult, especially given the speed and individual skill of the opponents.In his match analysis, the coach mentioned that during the first half, Ukraine could not create serious goal-scoring opportunities despite pressure from the French team.
The main issue was the lack of sharp attacks and the absence of truly dangerous situations near the opponents’ goal.
In the second half, Ukrainian players had several chances to score, but none materialized.
Rebrov also highlighted that France controlled the game tempo effectively, making it difficult for Ukrainian defenders to keep pace.The renowned coach stressed that the team worked on tactical plans and psychological readiness for the second half, but unfortunately, this did not lead to the desired outcome.
Despite the loss, the Ukrainian players remain motivated and determined to improve in upcoming qualification matches.
The next major test for the national team will be a match in Baku against Azerbaijan scheduled for September 9, where the team aims to demonstrate its best qualities.
In the group, Iceland is also competing, striving to advance to the next stage of the tournament.Earlier reports indicated that a goalkeeper from Saudi Arabia was added to Ukraine’s roster, reflecting ongoing efforts by the coaching staff to strengthen the squad ahead of crucial matches.
Overall, the first game of the qualification campaign provides insights and motivation to further prepare the team for tougher opponents and ensure a respectable performance in the tournament.