Kylian Mbappe marked his first recreation as France captain with a brace in a 4-0 demolition of the Netherlands in Euro 2024 qualifying on Friday, whereas Romelu Lukaku scored a hat-trick as Belgium started a brand new period with a 3-0 victory in Sweden.
In Paris, France had been three targets up earlier than the halfway level within the first half of their Group B opener towards a Dutch aspect depleted by a virus.
Mbappe, who has taken over the armband from long-term skipper Hugo Lloris, arrange his vice-captain Antoine Griezmann to open the scoring inside two minutes on the Stade de France.
Griezmann, together with his hair dyed pink, then arrange the second aim within the eighth minute as his free-kick was bundled in from shut vary by Dayot Upamecano after Dutch goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen did not clear the hazard.
Mbappe then ran by means of to make it 3-0 after Randal Kolo Muani had cleverly left an Aurelien Tchouameni by means of ball, and the Paris Saint-Germain celebrity wrapped up the win in emphatic trend late on.
An ideal night for Les Bleus was accomplished when Mike Maignan, France’s new first-choice goalkeeper, saved a stoppage-time Memphis Depay penalty.
“We didn’t want to disappoint our fans. This was our first game back here after the World Cup and we really wanted to pick up where we left off there, except for the final,” Mbappe, who now has 38 targets in 67 appearances for his nation, informed broadcaster TF1.
This was the primary time the Netherlands had misplaced by a four-goal margin since taking place to defeat by the identical scoreline towards France in Paris in August 2017.
France’s subsequent recreation is away to the Republic of Ireland on Monday, whereas the Netherlands host Gibraltar.
Gus Poyet’s Greece beat Gibraltar 3-0 in Faro, Portugal, on Friday, with Giorgos Masouras, Manolis Siopis and captain Anastasios Bakasetas all scoring for the 2004 European champions.
Knocked out of the World Cup within the group stage, Belgium have since seen Roberto Martinez depart and he has been changed as coach by Domenico Tedesco.
He couldn’t have requested for a greater debut as Inter Milan ahead Lukaku scored all of the targets away in Sweden in Group F.
Lukaku headed within the opener on 35 minutes after which netted with a tap-in, in off Victor Lindeloef, after being arrange by Dodi Lukebakio early within the second half.
The 41-year-old Zlatan Ibrahimovic got here off the bench for Sweden earlier than Lukaku made it 3-0 with one other straightforward end.
“To take three points and score three goals in Sweden is never easy for any team,” Tedesco informed Belgium’s RTBF.
In the identical part, Marcel Sabitzer scored twice as Ralf Rangnick’s Austria beat Azerbaijan 4-1 at house in Linz. Michael Gregoritsch and Christoph Baumgartner additionally scored for the hosts.
Robert Lewandowski’s Poland obtained off to a shedding begin in Group E of their first recreation beneath new coach Fernando Santos, the person who led Portugal to glory at Euro 2016.
Ladislav Krejci and Tomas Cvancara scored within the first three minutes for the hosts in Prague and Jan Kuchta later obtained the third.
Damian Szymanski pulled one again for Poland as Lewandowski was stored quiet.
Moldova wanted a late penalty to attract 1-1 at house to the Faroe Islands in the identical group.
In Group G, Dusan Tadic and Dusan Vlahovic scored the targets as Serbia beat Lithuania 2-0 in Belgrade whereas Montenegro had been 1-0 winners away in Bulgaria, Nikola Krstovic getting the winner.
Qualifying for subsequent yr’s finals in Germany continues on Saturday when Spain face Norway and Croatia tackle Wales.
Source: www.anews.com.tr
