France 1-1 Ukraine: 5 Talking Points as Ukraine force share of the spoils against World champions | FIFA World Cup Qualifiers 2022

#3 Mykola Matviyenko - A talent going under the radar

Mykola Matviyenko

The 24-year-old Mykola Matviyenko is one of the best players in the country, something he showed against France in Paris.

But the Ukrainian centre-back has not had much attention and appreciation coming his way. There were some links to Arsenal and Manchester City in the last two years, but Shakhtar Donetsk are yet to receive any offers for the player.

To stand out against a front three of Mbappe, Griezmann and Coman is a prize in itself, and Matviyenko did that in some style. He was by far the best Ukraine player on the pitch. And despite a shaky start, the young centre-back gave Coman and Benjamin Pavard quite a tough time to go past him.

With six clearances, three tackles, three interceptions and 70% duels won, Matviyenko-led Ukraine kept things tight at the back and made sure France failed to win.

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#4 Antoine Griezmann moves to fourth in France's all-time goal-scoring list

Antoine Griezmann

Another day, another masterclass from Antoine Griezmann in national colours. One of the few shining lights for Deschamps on the night, the embattled Barcelona forward scored a beautiful goal.

It was his 34th for Les Bleus, which moved him joint-fourth in the country's all-time goal-scorers list.

Antoine Griezmann gives France the lead against Ukraine and becomes the joint-fourth top scorer in Les Bleus' history 🇫🇷Only Thierry Henry, Olivier Giroud and Michel Platini have scored more 🙌 pic.twitter.com/dVdNkYYGxN

— Goal (@goal) March 24, 2021

Griezmann had a decent outing against Ukraine. He dropped in between the lines, sometimes as deep as the halfway line, to collect the ball and start attacks for France.

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#5 Is Presnel Kimpembe, the right partner for Raphael Varane?

Ukraine rejoice after France scored an own goal.

Presnel Kimpembe is an aerially adept defender, possesses good passing prowess and is comfortable in a back four. But the 25-year-old is prone to errors, which leads to questions about whether he is the perfect partner for Raphael Varane in the long run.

The decline of Samuel Umtiti has led to this conundrum. At the moment, Umtiti looks far from making it to the France team, so Deschamps has Presnel Kimpembe and Clement Lenglet as his two left-footed centre-back options.

Aymeric Laporte was surprisingly not called up to the squad, a defender, who on paper is better than both the aforementioned options. Meanwhile, Kurt Zouma is preferably a player who normally plays instead of Varane and not alongside him.

Deschamps and his men travel to Kazakstan next, and it would be interesting to see if the manager gives Kimpembe another chance or looks to change things.

1 – This is the first time that the French national team concede a goal in a game they have faced no shot on target since Opta analysed Les Bleus (2006). Weird. #FRAUKR pic.twitter.com/dHyWZ926fp

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) March 24, 2021

With Kimpembe scoring an own goal in an abject France performance, he is unlikely to start on the weekend, despite almost scoring a dramatic late winner on the night.