Kylian Mbappe scored twice, including a Panenka penalty, while Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike scored his first goal for France in a dominating victory over Ukraine, securing a place in the 2026 World Cup.
After a scoreless first half, the hosts erupted in a dominant second half, with the glut of goals beginning with a penalty kick granted after Michael Olise was fouled inside the box.
Real Madrid attacker Mbappe stepped up to shoot a chipped penalty down the middle as goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin dived.
Ukraine will have felt cheated because they only moments ago thought they might be handed a penalty.
After initially waving play on following a challenge by Dayot Upamecano inside the box, referee Slavko Vincic was requested to review the monitor by the video assistant referee (VAR), but he chose to stay with his original decision.
Mbappe came close to adding to his goal twice before Olise scored to give France some relief.
Mbappe then scored his second goal of the game from close range in the dying minutes, bringing his career total to 55 for his country and bringing him closer to Olivier Giroud’s all-time France record of 57.
With two minutes remaining, Mbappe selflessly set up Ekitike for a brilliant finish through the goalkeeper’s knees, putting France back on track.
