Deschamps believes in France miracle, despite Ukraine setback

Les Bleus capitulated on Friday as they lost 2-0 to Ukraine in their World Cup play-off first leg, but their coach maintains they can yet turn around the tie on Tuesday

France coach Didier Deschamps believes his side can still qualify for the World Cup despite their 2-0 defeat to Ukraine on Friday.

Deschamps' men slumped to a hugely damaging defeat in the first leg of their play-off in Kiev as Ukraine sealed their first ever victory over the 1998 world champions.

Striker Roman Zozulya put the hosts in front just after the hour mark, before Andriy Yarmolenko doubled their advantage from the spot seven minutes from time.

Laurent Koscielny and Oleksandr Kucher were dismissed in injury time as both sides ended the game with 10 men, but it is France who are on the brink of elimination.

"It was a fight. We had a lot of opportunities," Deschamps told TF1. "But the first goal gave them more strength. We made a mistake on the penalty.

"Obviously this is a very bad result for us. But we have to believe.

"The best position is that of Ukraine who have it today but we still have 90 minutes with us at home."

France will attempt to reverse the deficit when they welcome Mikhail Fomenko's side to the Stade de France for the second leg on Tuesday.