France aim to secure World Cup place as Paris marks attacks anniversary

PARIS - France's World Cup qualifier against Ukraine on Thursday will be a poignant occasion as it takes place on the 10th anniversary of the 2015 Paris terror attacks.

On Friday, 13 November 2015, a series of attacks in Paris and around the Stade de France during a friendly match between Les Bleus and Germany left a total of 130 people dead.

Most of those who were killed lost their lives at the Bataclan concert hall in the city, where the US band Eagles of Death Metal was playing.

But one person died near the Stade de France in the northern Paris suburb of Saint-Denis, where multiple explosions took place as suicide bombers attempted to enter the ground.

The stadium was packed with France's then-president, Francois Hollande, among the close to 80,000 spectators in attendance for the game against Germany - the match was played to a conclusion despite the unfolding events, with France winning 2-0.

A decade on, none of the France players involved that night will feature against Ukraine across the capital at the Parc des Princes, but national team coachDidier Deschamps remains in charge of Les Bleus.

"Deep down, I think it would have been better if we could have avoided playing on November 13," Deschamps admitted as he spoke to reporters last week to announce his squad.

A minute's silence will be held ahead of kick-off to remember the victims of the attacks, and Deschamps added: "There is an obligation to remember what happened, but there is a football match to be played too."

The game is potentially decisive for France as they seek to secure qualification for next year's World Cup in North America.

Les Bleus, winners of the World Cup in 2018 and runners-up in Qatar in 2022, are on top of the four-team Group D with two matches remaining.

They sit three points clear of Ukraine in second, meaning a win here will wrap up qualification with a game to spare - but if they slip up they will still be in a position to finish first when they goto Azerbaijan on Sunday.

Ukraine realistically have to win the game to stand a chance of beating the French to top spot, and are otherwise aiming to hold off Iceland to finish second and go into play-offs.

Veteran midfielder N'Golo Kante, now playing in Saudi Arabia, was brought back into the France squad for the games and could make his first international appearance in exactly a year.

Randal Kolo Muani of Tottenham Hotspur had been recalled too, but was later forced to withdraw from the squad with a broken jaw.

Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele of Paris Saint-Germain is a notable injury absentee for France, who won 2-0 against Ukraine in the reverse fixture played in Poland in September.

JOIN US ON WHATSAPP

Stay ahead of the story: Join our WhatsApp channel today.

Want breaking news at your fingertips, the moment it happens? Our WhatsApp Channel is the fastest way to stay connected with the stories that matter most.

From breaking news alerts to exclusive stories, analysis and must-read features - you’ll get it all directly on your phone.

Joining is simple.

Just click Follow on our WhatsApp Channel and stay informed.