A three-goal blitz in the opening 21 minutes saw France blow Netherlands away as they got their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign underway with a 4-0 victory.
Playing their first game since losing the World Cup final on penalties to Argentina, Didier Deschamps’ side were in stunning form, as Antoine Griezmann and new captain Kylian Mbappe were both on the scoresheet.
Les Bleus could barely have made a better start, finding the back of the net after less than two minutes as Griezmann fired into the bottom corner from Mbappe’s pass. That lead was doubled shortly afterwards as the Atletico Madrid star turned provider, whipping in a free-kick for Dayot Upamecano to squeeze home
Mbappe added a third on 21 minutes, stroking into the bottom corner after Randal Kolo Muani had dummied Aurelien Tchouameni’s through ball, and he arguably should have grabbed another on the half hour mark when hooking Jules Kounde’s cross over the bar.
The Dutch were on the ropes to such an extent that Ronald Koeman was forced into a first-half sub, replacing debutant Kenneth Taylor with Wout Weghorst, and the change of shape at least gave them more defensive solidity.
However, there was to be no way back into the game for the visitors, who created very little going forward, apart from a Memphis Depay free-kick which was saved by Mike Maignan.
At the other end, Mbappe was denied by Jasper Cillessen with a shot from inside the box that was too close to the ‘keeper, while Moussa Diaby had a goal ruled out for offside.
The fourth finally came with two minutes left, and it was no surprise that Mbappe got it, thumping into the far corner from just outside the box to round off a wonderful evening for the hosts.
Netherlands’ evening was summed up when Maignan saved a penalty from Depay in injury time.
TALKING POINT – Attacking riches make France a serious force
It’s no secret that France are already one of the best teams on the planet, given they won the 2018 World Cup, before finishing runners up in Qatar last year, but this performance from Les Bleus was on an altogether different level to what we’ve seen in recent years.
Didier Deschamps’ side, who could even afford to leave the country’s all-time leading scorer, Olivier Giroud, on the bench, blew away a Dutch defence containing Premier League stars such as Virgil van Dijk and Nathan Ake.
Kolo Muani, Giroud’s replacement. was one quarter of a sensational attacking force who looked unstoppable, with the pace of Coman, incisiveness of Griezmann and genius of Mbappe meaning the French are already shaping up as contenders for the Euro 2024 title.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Kylian Mbappe (France)
It’s hard to know what to say about a superstar who, at the age of 24, has already achieved so much in the game, including a World Cup win and a Qatar 2022 Golden Boot.
Just days after being named as Hugo Lloris’ successor as France captain, the PSG forward put in another sensational display, grabbing a goal and an assist in the first half alone.
In truth, he’s probably disappointed it was just the two strikes for his night’s work, as a few finishes were uncharacteristically poor, but he constantly found space in dangerous areas and used his breathtaking pace to cause no end of problems.
PLAYER RATINGS
FRANCE: Maignan 7; Kounde 7, Konate 7, Upamecano 7, Theo Hernandez 7; Tchouameni 8, Rabiot 7; Coman 8, Griezmann 8, Mbappe 9; Muani 8. Subs: Diaby 6, Giroud n/a, Camavinga n/a, Fofana n/a, Khephren Thuram n/a
Subs: Areola, Samba, Pavard, Disasi, Todibo, Veretout, Marcus Thuram
NETHERLANDS: Cillessen 5; Timber 5, Geertruida 5, van Dijk 5, Ake 6; de Roon 5, Wijnaldum 5, Taylor 6; Berghuis 5, Depay 4, Simons 5. Subs: Weghorst 5, Malen n/a, Klaassen, n/a, Blind n/a, Malacia n/a
Subs: Flekken, Scherpen, de Vrij, Wieffer, Gravenberch, Brobbey
KEY MOMENTS
2’ GOAL! FRANCE 1-0 NETHERLANDS (Antoine Griezmann). What a start! Mbappe is found in space on the left-hand side. He shapes to shoot, but decides to slide a pass to his right to Griezmann instead, and the midfielder finishes first time with a lovely shot into the bottom corner
8’ GOAL! FRANCE 2-0 NETHERLANDS (Dayot Upamecano). Unbelievable! France double their lead as Griezmann whips a dangerous free-kick into the box which is very poorly defended, and Dayot Upamecano forces home. Dreamland for the hosts
21’ GOAL! FRANCE 3-0 NETHERLANDS (Kylian Mbappe). Who else? Mbappe celebrates getting the captain’s armband by slotting home the third. It’s a lovely move, as Tchouameni’s ball forward is dummied by Kolo Muani. Mbappe runs onto it, leaving the Dutch defence in his wake, and slots into the bottom corner. Genius
30’ MBAPPE FIRES OVER. More brilliant attacking play from France as Jules Kounde gets down the right and crosses low to Mbappe, but he hooks his effort well over the bar
88’ GOAL! FRANCE 4-0 NETHERLANDS (Mbappe). The captain has his second, and what a finish it is! A thumping drive into the far bottom corner from outside the box, rounding off a wonderful evening
90+5’ PENALTY SAVED! The Dutch are awarded a penalty for a handball by Upamecano after Weghorst’s header hit his arm. The resulting spot-kick from Depay sums up their night, though. Maigan saves at a nice height and tame pace, before thwarting the follow up as well!
KEY STATS
- France remain unbeaten in home games against the Dutch since 1931
- Netherlands conceded three goals in the opening 45-minutes of a game for the first time since a 4-3 defeat of Austria in March 2008
- Mbappe’s two goals took him above Karim Benzema and into fifth on France’s list of goalscorers with 38 for his country.
Source: Euro Sports
