France vs. Ukraine: Top Players and Key Battles That Will Decide the Match

France have it all to do at home following Ukraine's 2-0 first-leg win in Kiev.

Unfortunately, Didier Deschamps' team may not be able to call upon the passionate support usually associated with home advantage, with Amy Lawrence of The Guardian reporting that 84 percent of the French public have given up on Patrice Evra and Co.

Mykhaylo Fomenko will be confident that his close-knit squad of Ukrainian veterans and exciting young talents will be able to hold out for a draw in Paris, at the very least.

Below is a breakdown of the top players and the key battles set to take place to contain them.

Match: France vs. Ukraine

First leg result: 0-2

Venue: Stade de France, Paris

Date: Tuesday, Nov. 19

Time: 8 p.m. GMT

Top Players and Key Battles

Franck Ribery

Bayern Munich's treble winner was named UEFA's Best Player in Europe for his attacking feats last season, yet his campaign to win the Ballon d'Or would take a major hit if he were unable to take France to the World Cup next summer.

Sweden and Portugal's deciding playoff match has been dubbed as a personal duel between Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cristiano Ronaldo. Ribery must take a similarly central role in his team's battle for qualification.

Ukraine are an excellent team on a collective level, however, and will be well prepared to work together to stop the winger and close off the attacking channels to him.

To be true greats worthy of Ballon d'Or wins and other accolades, players must produce greatness. And even though Fomenko's tactics suffocated Ribery in Kiev, he has to find a way to mix up his game and overcome his double markers.

Roman Zozulya

Having opened the scoring in the first leg, Roman Zozulya could yet prove to be the man who fired Ukraine to the World Cup. He could grab even more of the glory for himself should he breach the home defences to score in Paris.

An away goal would all but seal qualification for his country, and with Laurent Koscielny suspended due to a red card in the previous game, a less-regular defence is set to be put under pressure due to France's need to attack and score goals.

Either Mamadou Sakho or Raphael Varane will replace the Arsenal man, although it's possible that both young defenders will be switched in for Eric Abidal as well.

With his clever movement and tireless energy, Zozulya will be happy to work France's makeshift defence to sniff out and create openings in their back line.

Yevhen Konoplyanka

Having been a constant threat out wide in Kiev, Yevhen Konoplyanka will be looking to best Mathieu Debuchy on the flanks to ensure Ukraine progress to Brazil with a bang rather than a whimper.

Newcastle United's French full-back will need more support from Samir Nasri or his midfield colleagues in order to contain the Dnipro winger to limit the chances of a decisive breakaway that could feed Zozulya.

France have to attack if they are to have any hope of reaching the World Cup. But Konoplyanka will be hovering, posing a serious counter-attacking threat that Deschamps will have to gamble against rather than nullify as he aims for a handsome home victory at the Stade de France.

Samir Nasri

The Manchester City attacking midfielder was accused of cowardice during his side's Premier League defeat to Manchester United last season. His reluctance to take the hit of a free-kick within his team's defensive wall handed their rivals a major breakthrough.

Against Ukraine, he seemed to shrink within himself and lose his mental courage, even if his ability to stand up to a set piece wasn't tested in Kiev.

France will need Nasri to put in a huge performance in Paris, although it would be understandable if he were dropped in favour of Mathieu Valbuena, who looked far more lively during his 10-minute cameo in the first leg.

Should the second-leg hosts suddenly find that their other attacking midfield position is filled with a footballer rather than a passenger as they try to overturn their 2-0 deficit, Ukraine may find themselves with a more formidable adversary away from home.  

It wouldn't be enough to swing the tie in France's favour, but with Nasri playing the role of absentee in the first leg, it could be the boost Deschamps and his team need to attempt the nigh on impossible.