Iceland 2-2 France Player Ratings: Digne Rated 8.5/10 as Thrilling 2-2 Draw Sees Both Sides Share the Spoils

If we have to sum up this result in a few words, we can simply say ‘No Mbappe, No Party’. The match between Iceland and France in the European Qualifiers ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw, a result that felt like a win for the hosts and a major frustration for the star-studded visitors. France controlled the tempo for large spells, but Iceland’s heart and opportunism earned them a valuable point.

Iceland struck first, completely against the run of play. A well-worked set piece saw Iceland defender Victor Palsson poke home in the 39th minute. France, for all their possession, looked shell-shocked.

It took them until the second half to truly respond, with France forward Christopher Nkunku and Jean Philippe Mateta scoring in quick succession to turn the game on its head. Just when we thought France would run away with it, Iceland roared back, with substitute Kristian Hlynsson netting an immediate equalizer. What stood out to us was France's inability to kill the game, missing several golden opportunities that ultimately cost them the victory.

Here are Iceland Vs France Player Ratings

Iceland Player Ratings vs France

Here are Iceland Player Ratings vs France

Goalkeeper

Elías Ólafsson - 8.0: What a heroic performance from the Icelandic shot-stopper. He was the primary reason his team escaped with a point, making five crucial saves. We noticed his excellent positioning and quick reflexes, especially on a close-range header in the first half. Although he conceded two goals, he was left completely exposed for both. A truly commanding display between the sticks.

Defenders

Logi Tómasson - 5.5: A difficult evening for the defender. From our perspective, he struggled to contain France's dynamic wing play and was forced into committing several fouls, eventually earning a yellow card. He was substituted shortly after the hour mark, which felt like a necessary change. He gave it his all but was simply outmatched.

Daníel Leó Grétarsson - 7.5: A colossal performance at the heart of the defense. The stats speak for themselves: 12 clearances and a vital last-man tackle. He was a rock, throwing his body on the line time and time again. What stood out to us was his reading of the game, consistently being in the right place to snuff out danger. An old-school, no-nonsense defensive masterclass.

Victor Pálsson - 7.5: A game of two halves for Pálsson. He showed great striker's instincts to pop up and score the opening goal, sending the home crowd into delirium. Defensively, he was physically imposing, winning his share of aerial duels. However, he did lose possession cheaply on a few occasions. The crucial goal significantly boosts his rating.

Sverrir Ingi Ingason - 6.0: A busy and often frantic night for the centre-back. He contributed with seven clearances but never looked truly comfortable against France's fluid attack. We noticed a couple of moments of hesitation. He wasn't poor by any means, but he wasn't as composed as his partner Grétarsson.

Mikael Egill Ellertsson - 6.5: His defining moment was a heroic goal-line clearance that single-handedly kept his team in the game at a crucial juncture. Outside of that incredible intervention, he had a quiet game. He worked hard but struggled to make an impact, losing possession more than he would have liked. That clearance alone earns him a respectable rating.

Midfielders

Hákon Arnar Haraldsson - 6.5: The captain led by example with his tireless work rate in the middle of the park. He was constantly harrying French players and trying to disrupt their rhythm. While his effort was immense, he wasn't able to provide much creative influence going forward. A solid, industrious shift.

Ísak Jóhannesson - 6.5: Exceptionally neat and tidy in possession, boasting an impressive 91% pass accuracy. He was the calm head in a chaotic midfield battle, keeping the ball moving intelligently. However, we felt he could have been more aggressive defensively, as he was bypassed a little too easily at times.

Albert Gudmundsson - 8.0: Iceland's brightest spark by a country mile. He was the architect of their attacking threat, providing a brilliant assist and creating two big chances. Every time he got on the ball, there was a sense of anticipation. From our perspective, he was the one player who truly troubled the French backline with his skill and vision. An outstanding performance.

Forwards

Sævar Atli Magnússon - 6.0: His game was unfortunately cut short by an injury just before halftime. In his time on the pitch, he worked hard to press the French defenders and drew a few clever fouls to relieve pressure. He didn't have any clear-cut chances but contributed to the team's defensive shape from the front.

Daníel Gudjohnsen - 5.0: A really tough first half for the young forward. He was completely isolated and struggled to make any impact, managing only 10 touches. It was no surprise to see him substituted at halftime. A difficult learning experience against world-class defenders.

Substitutes

Kristian Hlynsson - 7.5: The definition of an impact substitute. Came on at halftime and completely changed the complexion of Iceland's attack. He showed great composure to score the vital equalizer, capping off a brilliant and energetic performance. What a moment for him.

Manager

A. Gunnlaugsson - 8.0: He got his tactics spot on. He knew his team would have to suffer, and he set them up to be resilient, organized, and clinical. His decision to bring on Kristian Hlynsson at halftime proved to be a stroke of genius. To mastermind a draw against France is a fantastic achievement.

France Player Ratings vs Iceland

Here are France Player Ratings vs Iceland

Goalkeeper

Mike Maignan - 5.0: A spectator for most of the match, which makes his rating all the more frustrating. Iceland had two shots on target, and both ended up in the back of his net. From where we were sitting, he couldn't do much for either goal, but it’s a brutal reality for a goalkeeper on a day like this. He will be deeply disappointed.

Defenders

Lucas Digne - 8.5: Our man of the match. He was a force of nature down the left flank, constantly bombing forward and delivering dangerous crosses. He provided a deserved assist and was defensively solid, winning the majority of his duels. An all-action performance that was a joy to watch.

Dayot Upamecano - 6.5: As usual, he was calm and composed on the ball, rarely misplacing a pass. However, we noticed he was dribbled past on a couple of occasions and didn't seem as imperious as we know he can be. A solid, if unspectacular, outing.

William Saliba - 6.5: Much like his partner, Saliba was excellent in possession but was part of a defence that conceded two goals from limited threats. He won his tackles and was strong in the air, but the defensive unit as a whole looked vulnerable on set pieces. A decent performance, but not a commanding one.

Jules Koundé - 6.5: He contributed to the attack, getting forward and even testing the keeper. Defensively, he was sound and didn't make any glaring errors. It was a standard, professional performance, but in a game where his team needed a bit more inspiration, he was just okay.

Midfielders

Eduardo Camavinga - 6.0: A very chaotic performance from the midfielder. He was full of energy, drawing fouls and driving forward, but his recklessness led to a yellow card and several cheap fouls given away. His talent is undeniable, but he lacked composure before being substituted.

Manu Koné - 7.0: The anchor in France's midfield. He was incredibly tidy, recycling possession with 95% pass accuracy and providing a stable platform for the attackers. He didn't create headlines, but his calm and controlled presence was vital to France's dominance of the ball.

Michael Olise - 6.5: A frustrating performance to watch. He was a livewire, constantly looking to create, but his final product was lacking. He delivered 11 crosses with little success and squandered a big chance to score. There's a brilliant player in there, but it didn't quite click for him in this match.

Christopher Nkunku - 7.0: He got his goal with a smart finish that brought France back into the game. However, from our perspective, his performance will be remembered for the two big chances he missed. He could have been the hero but ended the night with a feeling of what might have been.

Florian Thauvin - 7.0: Looked incredibly sharp during his 64 minutes on the pitch. He had five shots and was a constant menace to the Icelandic defence. He was unlucky not to score and his substitution was a bit of a surprise to us as he seemed one of the most likely to make something happen.

Forwards

Jean-Philippe Mateta - 7.5: A true striker's performance. He was a physical handful for the defenders and got himself in the right place to score a poacher's goal. Like Nkunku, however, he was also guilty of missing a glorious opportunity. His goal was crucial, but his miss was just as significant in the end.

Manager

D. Deschamps - 6.0: He will be tearing his hair out after this result. His team had complete control for most of the game and created enough chances to win two matches. However, their defensive vulnerability on set pieces and their profligacy in front of goal were major issues. He failed to find a way to break down a stubborn defence when it mattered most.

Sportsdunia's player of the match is Digne