France 2-1 Iceland Player Ratings: Kylian Mbappe Rated 8.5/10 as Les Bleus Hold on for a 2-1 Win After Red Card Drama

What a rollercoaster of a game at the Parc des Princes. France were expected to dominate this WC Qualification Europe fixture, but Iceland had other ideas. They delivered a shock punch, taking the lead through a clinical Andri Gudjohnsen finish. It really felt like an upset was on the cards for a moment.

France looked a bit stunned. But as we've seen so many times, they have the quality to respond. Just before the break, Marcus Thuram was brought down in the box, and Kylian Mbappé stepped up to smash the penalty home. That goal completely changed the halftime team talks, I'm sure.

The second half saw France push for a winner, which they found through a smart finish from Bradley Barcola. Just when it seemed like they would see the game out drama struck. Aurélien Tchouaméni received a straight red card after a VAR review. From our perspective, it was a reckless challenge. This set up a nail-biting finish. Iceland threw everything forward and even thought they'd equalized again through Gudjohnsen, only for VAR to cruelly rule it out. In the end, this match was a testament to France's grit, securing a vital 2-1 win despite being a man down.

Here are France Vs Iceland Player Ratings

France Player Ratings vs Iceland

Here are France Player Ratings vs Iceland

Goalkeeper

Mike Maignan - 6.0: A quiet evening for the French keeper, for the most part. He couldn't do much about the goal he conceded. Made one crucial save and looked composed with the ball at his feet. His distribution was decent enough, finding a teammate 62% of the time. He commanded his box well, especially during those nervy final minutes.

Defenders

Jules Koundé - 6.5: A pretty standard performance from Koundé before he was subbed off. He was solid defensively and tried to get forward to support the attack. We noticed he lost possession a few times, but he created one chance. It wasn't his most spectacular game, but he did his job without any major errors. A steady presence on the right flank.

Dayot Upamecano - 6.5: Upamecano had some really strong moments mixed with some slightly nervy ones. He won most of his duels and was a physical presence. His passing was impressively accurate at 92%. However, he was dribbled past once and looked a little unsettled at times. From our perspective, a decent but not dominant display.

Ibrahima Konaté - 6.5: Konaté was a solid partner to Upamecano. He made four crucial clearances and was strong in the air. We were impressed with his composure on the ball, completing 92% of his passes. He didn't make any glaring mistakes and was reliable throughout. He quietly went about his business effectively.

Theo Hernández - 6.0: It was a frustrating night for Hernández. He picked up a yellow card and didn't have his usual impact in the final third. He worked hard and recovered the ball six times. But he also lost the ball quite a bit. We expected more from him going forward, but he was defensively responsible.

Midfielders

Aurélien Tchouaméni - 5.0: What a shame. He was actually having a decent game, controlling the midfield and creating a big chance. His passing was crisp and forward-thinking. But that red card was a moment of madness. It was a poor challenge that rightfully saw him sent off, putting his team under immense pressure. That single action really drags his rating down.

Manu Koné - 7.5: What stood out to us was Koné's relentless energy in the middle of the park. He was everywhere, making tackles, driving forward, and taking shots. He won eight duels and was a disruptive force for Iceland. He did pick up a yellow card and committed a few fouls, but his aggression was mostly positive. A really impressive, all-action performance.

Michael Olise - 7.0: A mixed bag for Olise. He was a creative hub, creating four chances including a big one. His passing was sublime. However, a major blemish was the error that led to Iceland's goal. It was a moment that almost cost his team dearly. He also hit the woodwork. So much talent on display, but the costly mistake was hard to ignore.

Forwards

Bradley Barcola - 7.5: He was the man to score the crucial winning goal, and he took it well. He was a livewire during his time on the pitch, always looking to get in behind. His direct running caused problems for the Icelandic defence. It was a mature performance that was capped off with a goal that secured three points.

Kylian Mbappé - 8.5: The star of the show. When France needed someone to step up, it was him. He was cool under pressure to convert the penalty. Beyond the goal, he created four chances and was a constant nightmare for defenders. His pace and trickery were on full display. Undoubtedly the highest-rated player and our man of the match.

Marcus Thuram - 7.0: A real handful. He won the crucial penalty with his direct running inside the box. He had seven shots, showing his intent, but maybe should have done better with a couple of big chances he missed. His physical presence was a problem for Iceland all night. A good performance, even if his finishing was a bit wayward.

Manager

D. Deschamps - 7.0: His team got the job done in the end, but they made it difficult for themselves. The team showed resilience to come from behind. His substitutions were logical after the red card to manage the game. It wasn't a vintage French performance, but winning is what counts in qualifiers, and he guided his team to a crucial victory.

Iceland Player Ratings vs France

Here are Iceland Player Ratings vs France

Goalkeeper

Elías Ólafsson - 7.5: He was absolutely outstanding. Without his six saves, six of which were inside the box, France would have run away with it. He kept his team in the game with some brilliant stops. From our perspective, he deserved better than to be on the losing side. A heroic effort between the sticks.

Defenders

Daníel Leó Grétarsson - 6.0: A tough night at the office against a world-class attack. He made a couple of important tackles and five clearances. However, he struggled to contain the fluid movement of the French forwards. He battled hard but was ultimately part of a defence that conceded twice.

Victor Pálsson - 6.5: A warrior in defence. He was immense in the air, winning four of his five aerial duels. He made some crucial interceptions and clearances. He did get dribbled past twice, which shows the quality he was up against. A committed and brave performance from the centre-back.

Sverrir Ingi Ingason - 7.0: We were very impressed with Ingason. He was a leader at the back, organizing the defence and throwing his body on the line. He made a staggering eight clearances and two tackles. His passing was also surprisingly accurate. A colossal performance against elite opposition.

Mikael Anderson - 5.0: It was a game to forget for Anderson. His biggest mistake was conceding the penalty that allowed France to equalize. That was a turning point in the match. He also picked up a yellow card for the foul. It's tough, but that single error proved to be incredibly costly for his team.

Mikael Egill Ellertsson - 6.0: He had a difficult job trying to contain France's wingers and full-backs. He worked tirelessly and made three tackles. However, he struggled to offer much going forward. A diligent but ultimately quiet performance from the defender.

Midfielders

Hákon Arnar Haraldsson - 7.0: Iceland's main creative force. As captain, he led by example with his work rate and quality on the ball. He created three chances, including one big chance, and was always looking to make something happen. A very bright and promising performance in the heart of midfield.

Ísak Jóhannesson - 6.5: A solid and industrious performance in the midfield. He put in the work defensively, making three tackles and recovering the ball. His passing was neat and tidy. He didn't offer a huge threat going forward but provided good balance to the team before being substituted.

Jón Dagur Thorsteinsson - 6.0: He struggled to get into the game and make a real impact. He drew a couple of fouls but was wasteful in possession. We noticed he lost the ball nine times from just 19 touches. It was no surprise to see him substituted in the second half.

Forwards

Daníel Gudjohnsen - 6.5: He worked his socks off leading the line. He battled hard against Konaté and Upamecano, winning six duels. He didn't get many chances himself but occupied the defenders well, creating space for his strike partner. A selfless and hard-working shift.

Andri Gudjohnsen - 8.0: What a performance from the young striker. He took his goal with the composure of a seasoned veteran. He was a constant threat and was so unlucky to have his second goal ruled out by VAR. He showed he belongs at this level. A truly brilliant display that will give Iceland fans a lot of hope.

Manager

A. Gunnlaugsson - 7.0: He can be incredibly proud of his team. His game plan was spot on, frustrating France and looking dangerous on the counter. His side showed immense character and were unfortunate not to come away with a point. He organized his team brilliantly and almost masterminded a historic result.

Sportsdunia Player of the Match is Kylian Mbappe