ANTOINE GRIEZMANN scored a superb goal but holder France was held to a 1-1 draw at home by Ukraine on Wednesday as the side’s qualifying campaign for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar got off to a stumbling start.

Barcelona star Griezmann curled in the opener in the 19th minute before Andriy Shevchenko’s Ukraine drew level courtesy of an own-goal by the unfortunate Presnel Kimpembe just before the hour mark at an empty Stade de France.

It is a result that immediately puts the defending world champion on the back foot, with only the group winner automatically qualifying for next year’s finals.

France makes the long trip to Central Asia to play Kazakhstan on Sunday before stopping off in Sarajevo for another game against Bosnia and Herzegovina next Wednesday.

Les Bleus will also face Finland in the five-team Group D, and a brace by Teemu Pukki saw the Finns draw 2-2 with Bosnia in Helsinki in Wednesday’s other game.

Meanwhile, a hat trick by 35-year-old striker Burak Yilmaz earned Turkey a 4-2 win over the Netherlands, whose qualifying record for major international tournaments has been sketchy in recent years.

The Dutch failed to make it to Euro 2016 or the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and haven’t shown great form under new coach Frank de Boer, who has just two wins in seven games since replacing Ronald Koeman.

They are in a tricky Group G that also includes Norway, which preceded its 3-0 win over Gibraltar.

There were wins for top-ranked Belgium, 3-1 over Wales, and reigning European champion Portugal, 1-0 over Azerbaijan. Portugal is one of the teams playing its opening qualifiers in neutral territory — in its case, the Italian city of Turin — because of coronavirus travel restrictions.

Griezmann moved level with David Trezeguet in fourth place on France’s scoring list, on 34 goals, after curling a left-footed shot into the far corner from the right edge of the penalty area.

However, fellow forwards Olivier Giroud and Kylian Mbappe struggled to get into the game and Ukraine fought back, even if there was an element of fortune about the equalizer in the 57th.

(SD-Agencies)