Don’t count France out just yet. Goals from Mamadou Sakho and Karim Benzema have evened the aggregate score with Ukraine, 2-2, after the first half at Stade de France in Saint Denis on Tuesday in the second leg of a UEFA World Cup Qualifier playoff.

Sakho’s goal came in the 22nd minute when he managed to rebound the block from goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov after a hard shot from Bayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery from distance.

Benzema scored in traffic in the 34th minute as the ball found its way to the Real Madrid striker in the confusion, and he made easy work of his good fortune from close range. Ukraine defenders pleaded for an offside call, but didn’t get it.

France played a more aggressive first half. Didier Deschamps's squad held possession for two-thirds of the match.

Ukraine have only managed five shots with none on target, while France have 10 shots with five on goal. Ukraine midfielder Ruslan Rotan earned a yellow card in the seventh minute.

France entered the home match with questions of whether they could rebound from a 2-0 loss to Ukraine in the first leg.

Goal Mamadou Sakho France 1-0 Ukraine (19-11...by Sport-Today-2014

Goal Karim Benzema France 2-0 Ukraine (19-11...by Sport-Today-2014

Ukraine