Vice world champions France, Portugal and Belgium have become the first teams to qualify for the 2024 European Football Championship in Germany.
On Friday (October 13, 2023), France won 2-1 (1-0) in the Netherlands and secured the ticket, as did the Belgians trained by Domenico Tedesco, who triumphed 3-2 (1-0) in Austria. Portugal eliminated any last doubts with a 3:2 (2:0) win against Slovakia.
Netherlands under heavy pressure
France picked up their sixth win in their sixth qualifying game. The Dutch are under pressure after their second defeat and slipped to third place in the table behind Greece, who won 2-0 (2-0) in Ireland. Bonds coach Ronald Koeman’s team now has to win on Monday in Athens in order to draw level with Greece on points and maintain their chances of getting a ticket to the European Championship.
Mbappe draws level with Platini
Superstar Kylian Mbappe (7th) drew level with the great Michel Platini with his 41st international goal – and a little later surpassed the 1984 European champion with his second goal of the evening (53rd). Mbappe is now in fourth place among France’s most successful goalscorers, with Olivier Giroud at the top (54th). Quilindschy Hartman scored for Elftal (83′).
The Dutch, who last missed a European Championship in 2016, held up well against the runner-up, but had nothing to counter Mbappe’s extra class. The Paris St. Germain superstar took advantage of the first chance to take the lead, then scored beautifully at the start of the second half after a one-two with Adrien Rabiot. On the other side, the Dutch celebrated the supposed goal: But Donyell Malen’s goal (55th) did not count because of offside.
Lukebakio was man of the evening for Belgium with three goals
Everything was ready for the Austrians’ big party in Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium – even the absence of injured regular players David Alaba and Marko Arnautovic shouldn’t be an obstacle for coach Ralf Rangnick’s team. But former Bundesliga professional Dodi Lukebakio (12th) caused a setback early on.
After the break, Lukebakio scored twice for German coach Domenico Tedesco’s team (55th, 58th). But Austria came back: First Bayern Munich’s Konrad Laimer shortened the score (73′), then Dortmund’s Marcel Sabitzer brought the Rangnick team close to winning a point with a hand penalty (84′). Belgium’s Amadou Onana was shown a yellow-red card (78′).
Nevertheless, Rangnick’s team still has a good chance of qualifying: Austria can book their ticket with a win on Monday in Azerbaijan, and Belgium can also provide support in the evening game against Sweden.
Ronaldo scores, Portugal still trembles
Double packer Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. didn’t miss their match point in Porto in the 3:2 (2:0) win against Slovakia. Ronaldo (29th) converted a hand penalty to make it 2-0, Goncalo Ramos (18th) had put the 2016 European champions in the lead. Portugal was able to overcome the first goal of the current qualification by David Hancko (69th) because Ronaldo struck again (72nd). But Stanislav Lobotka made it exciting again (80th).
A total of 24 teams will take part in the finals next year (June 14 to July 14, 2024). Host Germany is placed in Group A and will play the opening game on June 14th in Munich.