France faced the embarrassing prospect of missing out on a major tournament for the first time in 20 years when they lost 2-0 away to Ukraine in the first leg of their World Cup play-off tie yesterday.
Les Bleus, who last missed a major competition when they failed to qualify for the 1994 World Cup finals, succumbed to Roman Zozulia’s goal shortly after the hour and Andriy Yarmolenko’s late penalty, four days before the return leg at the Stade de France.
Ten-man Iceland hung on for a heroic 0-0 draw to keep alive their dream of reaching the World Cup finals for the first time and in the other two play-offs first legs a late flying header from Cristiano Ronaldo gave Portugal a 1-0 win over Sweden and Greece opened a 3-1 lead over Romania.
France’s Laurent Koscielny and Ukraine’s Oleksandr Kucher were sent off in injury time as Ukraine took a step towards securing their second World Cup appearance after reaching the quarter-finals in 2006.
France barely had a chance apart from a Samir Nasri effort and were shaken throughout by a bold Ukraine side.
The visitors tried to keep possession but Ukraine were the most dangerous side and France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who started the game 12 days after suffering a concussion, made his first block from Yarmolenko’s crossed shot in the seventh minute.
Ukraine also came close on the half hour when Edmar’s diving header from Ruslan Rotan’s cross went wide after yet another nice move from the hosts.
Franck Ribery was closely marked as Les Bleus failed to create clearcut chances.
In the 61st minute, Zozulia squeezed his shot just under Lloris from Edmar’s touch to put the home side ahead.
Four minutes later, France almost hit back but Nasri, in a perfect position, shot straight at Andriy Pyatov.
It was Ukraine, however, who scored again when Yarmolenko converted a penalty after Koscielny had fouled Zozulia in the box.
Ronaldo bravely dived low to meet Miguel Veloso’s cross with an intelligent header in the 82nd minute of a match with plenty of chances for both teams, parti-cularly in the first period.
Sweden had several chances in the first half before Portugal took control after the break in a feisty encounter at the Luz stadium.
Croatia had the upper hand in the opening 20 minutes but Iceland dealt with the pressure comfortably before establishing their own more direct passing game as the half went on.
Iceland were then hit by a double blow when forward Kolbeinn Sigthorsson went off injured just before half-time and Olafur Skulason received a straight red card five minutes into the second period.
Skulason was dismissed for tangling with Ivan Perisic when the Croatian was through on goal.
The visitors went close early on through Luka Modric but Sigthorsson and strike partner Alfred Finnbogason also spurned excellent chances for Iceland in the first 10 minutes.
Croatia’s second-half passing was mesmerising at times and Iceland, roared on by a sellout crowd, had to throw themselves into a series of challenges to thwart their more skilful opponents.
Kostas Mitroglou scored twice in a hectic first half as Greece beat Romania at the Georgios Karai-skakis stadium in Athens.
The Olympiakos striker volleyed Greece in front after 14 minutes but the visitors hit back five minutes later via Bogdan Stancu’s header.
The Greeks retook the lead immediately thanks to Dimitris Salpingidis’s close-range finish, while Mitroglou added a third in the 67th to increase the advantage.
Romania’s Costin Lazar was then sent off in stoppage time.
Results
WCup play-offs
Iceland 0
Croatia 0
Red card: Skulason (I) 50
Greece 3
Mitroglou 14, 67, Salpingidis 21
Romania 1
Stancu 19
Red card: Lazar (R) 90
Portugal 1
Ronaldo 82
Sweden 0
Ukraine 2
Zozulia 61, Yarmolenko 82p
France 0
Red cards: Kucher (U), Koscielny (F) 90
Second legs: November 19
Friendlies
S. Korea 2
Jeong-Ho 59, Chung-Yo 87
Switzerland 1
Kasami 7
Belarus 0
Albania 0
Missed penalty: Kalachev (B) 18
Czech Rep. 2
Celustka 3, Horava 81
Canada 0
Russia 1
Samedov 29
Serbia 1
Djordjevic 31
Estonia 2
Zenjov 54, Lindpere 66
Azerbaijan 1
Aliyev 44
Denmark 2
Kvist 14, Boilesen 90
Norway 1
Pedersen 78
Turkey 1
Erdinc 45
N. Ireland 0
Ireland 3
Keane 22, McGeady 67, Long 80
Latvia 0
Italy 1
Abate 27
Germany 1
Hummels 8
Poland 0
Kucka 31; Mak 39
Slovakia 2
England 0
Chile 2
Sanchez 7, 90
Scotland 0
United States 0
Playing Today
Netherlands vs Japan 13.00
E. Guinea vs Spain 22.00
UEFA Under-21
Group 1: Moldova vs San Marino 2-0.
Standings: England 13; Wales, Moldova 10; Finland 8; Lithuania 7; San Marino 3.
Group 2: Slovenia vs Russia 0-1; Andorra vs Estonia 0-2; Bulgaria vs Denmark 2-3.
Standings: Denmark 14; Russia 13; Estonia, Bulgaria 8; Slovenia 5; Andorra 1.
Group 5: L’tenstein vs Latvia 0-2.
Standings: Croatia 12; Switzerland 9; Latvia 6; Ukraine 3; Liechtenstein 0.
Group 6: Ireland vs F. Islands 5-2; Montenegro vs Germany 1-1.
Standings: Germany 13; Montenegro, Ireland 7; Romania 5; F. Islands 1.
Group 7: Greece vs Sweden 5-1; Malta vs Poland 1-5.
Group 8: Israel vs Norway 4-1; Macedonia vs Azerbaijan 1-0.
Standings: Portugal, Israel 9; Macedonia, Azerbaijan 4; Norway 3.
Group 9: Serbia vs Belgium 2-2.
Standings: Belgium 13; Italy 9; Serbia 7; Cyprus 6; N. Ireland 0.