France were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Israel at the Parc des Princes, a match that was heavily overshadowed by the wider political context.
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The build-up to the encounter was dominated by protests and heightened security, with 20,000 fans inside the stadium and a heavy police presence due to pro-Palestine protests outside.
Despite the intense atmosphere, the match was underwhelming on the pitch, as France struggled to break down Israel’s defense and failed to capitalize on several opportunities.
The match, which saw several off-field tensions spill into the stands, was largely uneventful in terms of attacking quality. France created a handful of chances, but Randal Kolo Muani failed to finish on two occasions when sent behind Israel’s defense.
Bradley Barcola had a great chance to score but could not make contact with the ball when left unmarked in the box.
Israel rarely threatened but came close when Raz Shlomo almost scored from Dor Turgeman’s flick-on, a rare lapse in France’s defense. Les Bleus did have a late surge, with Warren Zaïre-Emery forcing Israel’s goalkeeper Daniel Peretz into a fantastic close-range save.
In injury time, substitutes Marcus Thuram and Christopher Nkunku both had chances to secure the win but shot straight at Peretz. Despite the uninspiring performance, the draw was enough to secure France’s qualification for the Nations League quarter-finals.
France Player Ratings:
Mike Maignan – 5
Maignan had a quiet game with little to do in goal. He wasn’t called into action often but didn’t make any mistakes when required.
Théo Hernandez – 6
Hernandez was solid in defense and contributed to the attack, though he couldn’t make a significant impact on the game overall.
Dayot Upamecano – 5
Upamecano had a decent game but was not involved much defensively. His performance was overshadowed by the struggles of his teammates.
Ibrahima Konaté – 4
Konaté was at fault for losing Shlomo during a set-piece, which led to Israel’s best chance of the match. He failed to impose himself and had a poor night defensively.
Jules Koundé – 6
Koundé was steady at the back and occasionally ventured forward, although he struggled to make a lasting impact on the game.
Eduardo Camavinga – 7
Camavinga was the standout performer for France, showing energy and ambition throughout the match. His passing and long-range distribution were key to some of France’s best moments.
N’Golo Kanté – 6
Kanté worked hard in midfield, trying to break up Israel’s play, but was unable to assert control over the game in the way he usually does.
Warren Zaïre-Emery – 6
Zaïre-Emery was dynamic and showed promise with his attacking runs. He came close to scoring but was thwarted by a brilliant save from Peretz.
Bradley Barcola – 4
Barcola had one of his less impressive performances for France. His decision-making was lacking, and his execution in front of goal was poor when he had a chance to score.
Randal Kolo Muani – 4
Kolo Muani failed to capitalize on the opportunities he had, and his lack of clinical finishing summed up France’s attacking struggles on the night.
Michael Olise – 3
Olise continued his struggles with France, failing to make an impact. His play was disconnected from his teammates, and he was ineffective in linking up with the attack.
The underwhelming draw ensures France’s spot in the quarter-finals of the Nations League, despite a lackluster performance that raised questions about their attacking efficiency ahead of the knockout rounds.
