France`s winless streak stretched to five games as Les Bleus were held to a 1-1 draw away to Ukraine in their World Cup qualifier in Group D on Saturday. 
 
The world champions fell behind when Mykola Shaparenko found the back of the net after 44 minutes before Anthony Martial restored parity early in the second half. 
 
France still top the group on nine points from five games after a 1-1 draw against Bosnia on Wednesday and three days before hosting second-placed Finland, who beat Kazakhstan 1-0. 
 
Ukraine are third behind the Finns, who also have five points, with Bosnia and Kazakhstan both on two points. 
 
Kingsley Coman deputised in attack for Kylian Mbappe, who left the squad with calf pain, while Karim Benzema and Raphael Varane were on the bench and replaced in the starting lineup by Anthony Martial and Kurt Zouma. 
 
France got off to a lively start but struggled to find their way past the hosts` five-man defence and they lacked inspiration throughout. 
 
Antoine Griezmann had a first attempt on 27 minutes but it was Ukraine who had the first clear chance through Andriy Yarmolenko, whose strike forced Hugo Lloris into a superb save in the 35th. 
 
Martial also had an opportunity just before the break, but Shaparenko opened the scoring on the counter attack with a splendid curled shot into the top corner. 
 
Martial, however, levelled five minutes into the second half from close range after Coman`s cross was deflected by Adrien Rabiot`s header and bounced off a Ukraine defender. 
 
In the 63th minute, Moussa Diaby replaced Coman and Benzema came on for Martial. 
 
Both substitutes combined nicely in the box with 15 minutes left, but Diaby`s shot hit keeper Andriy Pyatov`s right-hand post. 
 
The visitors, who looked shaky against Ukraine`s quick counter attacks, had another chance in the 85th minute when Rabiot`s fierce, low 25-metre shot was saved by Pyatov.

France`s winless streak stretched to five games as Les Bleus were held to a 1-1 draw away to Ukraine in their World Cup qualifier in Group D on Saturday. The world champions fell behind when Mykola Shaparenko found the back of the net after 44 minutes before Anthony Martial restored parity early in the second half.

France`s winless streak stretched to five games as Les Bleus were held to a 1-1 draw away to Ukraine in their World Cup qualifier in Group D on Saturday. The world champions fell behind when Mykola Shaparenko found the back of the net after 44 minutes before Anthony Martial restored parity early in the second half. France still top the group on nine points from five games after a 1-1 draw against Bosnia on Wednesday and three days before hosting second-placed Finland, who beat Kazakhstan 1-0. Ukraine are third behind the Finns, who also have five points, with Bosnia and Kazakhstan both on two points. Kingsley Coman deputised in attack for Kylian Mbappe, who left the squad with calf pain, while Karim Benzema and Raphael Varane were on the bench and replaced in the starting lineup by Anthony Martial and Kurt Zouma. France got off to a lively start but struggled to find their way past the hosts` five-man defence and they lacked inspiration throughout. Antoine Griezmann had a first attempt on 27 minutes but it was Ukraine who had the first clear chance through Andriy Yarmolenko, whose strike forced Hugo Lloris into a superb save in the 35th. Martial also had an opportunity just before the break, but Shaparenko opened the scoring on the counter attack with a splendid curled shot into the top corner. Martial, however, levelled five minutes into the second half from close range after Coman`s cross was deflected by Adrien Rabiot`s header and bounced off a Ukraine defender. In the 63th minute, Moussa Diaby replaced Coman and Benzema came on for Martial. Both substitutes combined nicely in the box with 15 minutes left, but Diaby`s shot hit keeper Andriy Pyatov`s right-hand post. The visitors, who looked shaky against Ukraine`s quick counter attacks, had another chance in the 85th minute when Rabiot`s fierce, low 25-metre shot was saved by Pyatov.

France's winless run continues with Ukraine draw

European clubs have accused world soccer`s governing body FIFA of abusing its regulatory function in a growing row over the extended-release of players for World Cup qualifiers in September and October. 
 
The Premier League and Spain`s LaLiga both said they backed clubs refusing to make players available for matches in South America. 
 
Premier League sides will be particularly hard hit by FIFA`s decision to extend a mandatory release period from nine to 11 days, to enable triple-headers to take place in South America. 
 
England`s strict quarantine rules have also added to the headache, with the Premier League saying no exemption had been granted by the government for football&nbsp;players. 
 
Liverpool had already refused to allow forward Mohamed Salah to travel to Africa for World Cup qualifiers with Egypt next month because he would be forced to quarantine on his return to England. 
 
The same measures could affect Liverpool’s Brazilian trio of Roberto Firmino, Alisson Becker and Fabinho, who have been called up for next month’s qualifiers against Chile, Argentina and Peru. 
 
Brazil, Chile, Argentina and Peru are all on the British government`s `red list` of countries that trigger a 10-day hotel quarantine to guard against the spread of COVID-19. 
 
"Premier League clubs have today reluctantly but unanimously decided not to release players for international matches played in red-list countries next month," the league said in a statement. 
 
Premier League players would potentially miss two matches if they were quarantined on their return. 
 
LALIGA SUPPORT 
 
Spain`s LaLiga said in a statement it would support clubs refusing to release their players for the South American qualifiers. 
 
"At the moment there are 25 players from 13 different clubs (affected), a number that could be expanded when the calls of Ecuador and Venezuela are announced," it said. 
 
"The Spanish association understands that the world calendar cannot and should not be changed in this way, especially if there are alternative solutions." 
 
It said affected clubs would be summoned to a meeting in coming days. 
 
With World Cup qualifiers also in Africa, Asia, the CONCACAF region and Europe, the clubs are on a potential collision course with FIFA. 
 
The European Club Association (ECA) wrote to members, in a Q&amp;A document seen by Reuters, saying FIFA had taken decisions unilaterally and "against the explicit objection of ECA and the rest of the stakeholders. 
 
"ECA has firmly expressed its objection to FIFA’s decision and has urged FIFA to review its position," it said. 
 
"ECA will not accept that a governing body like FIFA abuses its regulatory function in order to place its commercial interests and those of its member associations above the physical wellbeing of players and legitimate sporting interests of clubs." 
 
The ECA said FIFA had decided this month, at the request of South American confederation CONMEBOL, to extend the mandatory release period "in complete disregard to the clubs’ interests". 
 
It said FIFA was unlikely to change its decision and the ECA would have to consider what action to take. 
 
There was no immediate comment from FIFA.

European clubs have accused world soccer`s governing body FIFA of abusing its regulatory function in a growing row over the extended-release of players for World Cup qualifiers in September and October.

European clubs have accused world soccer`s governing body FIFA of abusing its regulatory function in a growing row over the extended-release of players for World Cup qualifiers in September and October. The Premier League and Spain`s LaLiga both said they backed clubs refusing to make players available for matches in South America. Premier League sides will be particularly hard hit by FIFA`s decision to extend a mandatory release period from nine to 11 days, to enable triple-headers to take place in South America. England`s strict quarantine rules have also added to the headache, with the Premier League saying no exemption had been granted by the government for football players. Liverpool had already refused to allow forward Mohamed Salah to travel to Africa for World Cup qualifiers with Egypt next month because he would be forced to quarantine on his return to England. The same measures could affect Liverpool’s Brazilian trio of Roberto Firmino, Alisson Becker and Fabinho, who have been called up for next month’s qualifiers against Chile, Argentina and Peru. Brazil, Chile, Argentina and Peru are all on the British government`s `red list` of countries that trigger a 10-day hotel quarantine to guard against the spread of COVID-19. "Premier League clubs have today reluctantly but unanimously decided not to release players for international matches played in red-list countries next month," the league said in a statement. Premier League players would potentially miss two matches if they were quarantined on their return. LALIGA SUPPORT Spain`s LaLiga said in a statement it would support clubs refusing to release their players for the South American qualifiers. "At the moment there are 25 players from 13 different clubs (affected), a number that could be expanded when the calls of Ecuador and Venezuela are announced," it said. "The Spanish association understands that the world calendar cannot and should not be changed in this way, especially if there are alternative solutions." It said affected clubs would be summoned to a meeting in coming days. With World Cup qualifiers also in Africa, Asia, the CONCACAF region and Europe, the clubs are on a potential collision course with FIFA. The European Club Association (ECA) wrote to members, in a Q&A document seen by Reuters, saying FIFA had taken decisions unilaterally and "against the explicit objection of ECA and the rest of the stakeholders. "ECA has firmly expressed its objection to FIFA’s decision and has urged FIFA to review its position," it said. "ECA will not accept that a governing body like FIFA abuses its regulatory function in order to place its commercial interests and those of its member associations above the physical wellbeing of players and legitimate sporting interests of clubs." The ECA said FIFA had decided this month, at the request of South American confederation CONMEBOL, to extend the mandatory release period "in complete disregard to the clubs’ interests". It said FIFA was unlikely to change its decision and the ECA would have to consider what action to take. There was no immediate comment from FIFA.

European clubs and FIFA at odds over World Cup qualifiers

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France's winless run continues with Ukraine draw

European clubs and FIFA at odds over World Cup qualifiers