Overview
- Thursday’s qualifier is at the Parc des Princes on the 10th anniversary of the 2015 Paris attacks that killed 130 people.
- A minute’s silence will precede kickoff, and captain Kylian Mbappe says the team will honor victims and those affected.
- Coach Didier Deschamps cites a duty to remember the tragedy while stressing there is a match to play.
- France lead Group D and will seal a World Cup spot with a win, having beaten Ukraine 2-0 in September’s reverse fixture.
- Squad updates include N’Golo Kante’s recall, Ousmane Dembele’s injury absence, Randal Kolo Muani’s withdrawal with a broken jaw, and Lucas Digne as the only player from 2015 still involved.