France kicked off their World Cup qualifying campaign in unconvincing fashion as they were held to a 1-1 home draw by Ukraine on Wednesday.
Antoine Griezmann put the world champions in front in the first half with a brilliant strike, only for defender Presnel Kimpembe to hand the visitors a point with an own goal after the break.
The result left Didier Deschamps’s side and Ukraine level with Finland and Bosnia in Group D after they drew 2-2 in the other game.
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Les Bleus next face Kazakhstan and Bosnia away, on Sunday and Wednesday.
Russia beat Malta 3-1 on Wednesday, ending a six-match winless streak, to kick off their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Captain Artyom Dzyuba opened the scoring in the 23rd minute of the Group H match at Malta’s Ta’Qali National Stadium with a low drive from the centre of the box.
Brazilian-born Mario Fernandes put Russia up 2-0 at half-time with a drive from the right side of the box that breezed under Maltese goalkeeper Henry Bonello’s left arm in the 35th minute. Malta’s Joseph Mbong narrowed Russia’s lead in the 56th minute, but substitute Alexander Sobolev sealed the win.
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Slovenia celebrated a 1-0 home win over Croatia in their opening 2022 World Cup Group H qualifier after Sandi Lovric struck in the 15th minute to sink the 2018 tournament’s runners-up. Cyprus and Slovakia played out a 0-0 draw in Group H.
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