France to face Ukraine on anniversary of 2015 Paris terror attacks

France’s World Cup qualifier against Ukraine on Thursday will carry deep emotional significance, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the 2015 Paris terror attacks that left 130 people dead.

On November 13, 2015, coordinated assaults struck the French capital, including explosions outside the Stade de France during a friendly match between France and Germany. While most victims were killed at the Bataclan concert hall, one person died near the stadium in Saint-Denis as suicide bombers tried to enter the venue.

Among the nearly 80,000 spectators at the Stade de France that night was then-president François Hollande. The game went on despite the chaos unfolding around the city, with France ultimately winning 2–0.

A decade later, none of the players who took part in that match will feature against Ukraine at the Parc des Princes, though Didier Deschamps, France’s coach in 2015, remains at the helm of Les Bleus.

“Deep down, I think it would have been better if we could have avoided playing on November 13,” Deschamps said last week while announcing his squad. “There is an obligation to remember what happened, but there is a football match to be played too.”

A minute’s silence will be observed before kick-off in memory of the victims.
Thursday’s match also carries major sporting stakes. France, the 2018 World Cup champions and 2022 runners-up, lead Group D by three points over Ukraine with two games left. A win would secure their qualification for next year’s World Cup in North America with one match to spare, while a loss would leave them needing a result in their final fixture against Azerbaijan on Sunday.

Ukraine, meanwhile, must win to keep alive their hopes of topping the group and are also battling to hold off Iceland for second place and a playoff berth.

Veteran midfielder N’Golo Kanté, now playing in Saudi Arabia, has been recalled and could make his first appearance for France in a year. Tottenham Hotspur forward Randal Kolo Muani was also named in the squad but withdrew after suffering a broken jaw.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé, the recent Ballon d’Or winner, is sidelined with injury, while France will look to repeat their 2–0 victory over Ukraine in the reverse fixture held in Poland in September.