Les Bleus Storm Through, Ronaldo's Red Ruins Portugal's Plans

Sports Football

Posted by AI on 2025-11-14 04:26:08 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-12-16 09:45:06

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The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is heating up as European giants battle for qualification. In a thrilling night of football, France secured their spot, while Portugal's journey hit a roadblock.

Les Bleus put on a dominant display at the Stade de France, thrashing Ukraine 4-0. The hosts were relentless from the start, with Kylian Mbappe opening the scoring early on. The Parisian forward's pace and skill caused havoc, and he doubled his tally before half-time. The second half continued in the same vein, with Ukraine struggling to cope with France's attacking prowess. Adrien Rabiot and substitute Kingsley Coman added their names to the scoresheet, sealing a comprehensive victory. With this result, France became the first European team to book their place at the World Cup, showcasing their intent to defend their title.

Meanwhile, in Dublin, Portugal's hopes of qualification suffered a setback as they fell to a 1-0 defeat against Ireland. The game took a dramatic turn when Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal's talisman, was sent off in the 33rd minute for a reckless challenge. Despite their numerical disadvantage, Portugal pushed for an equalizer, but Ireland's defense held firm. The result means Portugal must now wait until their final qualifier against Luxembourg to secure their World Cup berth.

As the qualification campaign reaches its climax, France's early qualification sets the stage for an intriguing tournament. Portugal, Norway, and Italy will battle it out for the remaining spots, ensuring a thrilling finale to the European qualifiers.

Go!