France thumped the Netherlands 4-0 in Paris on Friday evening with new French captain Kylian Mbappé main the way in which. The fixture was a matchup of the highest two groups in Group B of the 2024 Euro qualifiers.
The hosts began with a bang as Antoine Griezmann put the ball into the again of the web inside two minutes. The attacker started the transfer with a slick sort out on a Dutch participant. Randal Kolo Muani then performed a sq. go to Mbappé, who discovered Griezmann vast open on the fringe of the field. Griezmann neatly positioned a left-footed shot handed a diving Jasper Cillessen. It was his first aim for the nationwide staff in 17 complete matches.
The dynamic French duo beforehand made headlines this week due to the staff’s new captaincy. Head coach Didier Deschamps gave the armband to Mbappé after Enormous Lloris retired. This, nevertheless, didn’t go down with Griezmann, as he needed to be the subsequent French captain. However, the 2 gamers labored brilliantly collectively for the aim.
Early France onslaught on the Netherlands contains Mbappé
Dayot Upamecano doubled France’s lead simply six minutes later. Cillessen made a little bit of a multitude of a free kick, because the ball bounced off of his chest and fell straight to the French defender. Though it wasn’t precisely an exceptional end, Upamecano rolled the ball throughout the road for the aim.
Mbappé added a 3rd aim within the twenty second minute of the match. Aurélien Tchouaméni tried a go to Kolo Muani, who tried to nick the ball by to an onrushing Mbappé. Nonetheless, it didn’t seem that the striker obtained a contact on the ball and it went straight by to the PSG ahead. The famous person then slotted dwelling his 1 on 1 alternative in opposition to Cillessen. France had three complete pictures at this level of the match and transformed all of them.
Second half not fairly as hectic as the primary
Whereas the primary half was full of objectives and dominated by France, the second was definitely extra even. Each side had respectable probabilities to alter the scoreline within the opening 20 minutes of the ultimate interval. Mike Maignan was compelled to make a save from a harmful free kick. Then the aforementioned Kolo Muani additionally missed a wonderful alternative to offer France one other aim.
Mbappé would, nevertheless, internet his second aim of the sport simply minutes earlier than the full-time whistle. The famous person casually strolled by the Netherlands protection and struck a robust shot into the underside nook of the web. Mbappé faked two pictures, making defenders fall to the ground, earlier than lastly pulling the set off on the strike.
The Netherlands have been awarded a late penalty within the match because of a handball contained in the field by Upamecano. Memphis Depay, nevertheless, the spot kick. Maignan made the preliminary save after which adopted up with one other on the rebound.
France will look to maintain their place atop Group B once they face Eire on Monday. The Netherlands, then again, are set to play Gibraltar of their subsequent 2024 Euro qualification match.
PHOTO: IMAGO / PanoramiC
