A good three months after the defeat in the World Cup final, France’s national team got off to a brilliant start in qualifying for the European Championship.
The vice world champion won the top game against the Netherlands in Paris 4-0 (3-0) and collected the first three points on the way to EURO 2024 in Germany. It was also the start of a new era for the “Équipe Tricolore”: Superstar Kylian Mbappé took over the captaincy from the retired goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
In addition to the twice successful striker from Paris St. Germain (21st/88th), Antoine Griezmann (2nd) and Bayern defender Dayot Upamecano (8th) also scored for France. In injury time, Memphis Depay failed with a hand penalty to France’s new national goalkeeper Mike Maignan (90 + 5).
Mbappé puts on Griezmann’s goal
National coach Didier Deschamps had decided on the search for a new captain for Mbappé and thus also against Griezmann, this is said to have caused disagreements recently – but both stars worked together on Friday: Mbappé played Griezmann’s early goals.
In the minutes that followed, the Netherlands were always late against the French, who started with Bayern Munich’s Kingsley Coman and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani.
The game was decided after just over 20 minutes. The guests were weakened, among other things, Bayern defender Matthijs de Ligt and offensive star Cody Gakpo were absent due to illness. Greece won the second game in Group B in Faro against Gibraltar 3-0 (2-0).
Triple pack by Romelu Lukakui
As national coach, Domenico Tedesco got off to a great start on the way to the EURO in his native Germany. The 37-year-old started qualifying with the “Red Devils” with a 3-0 (1-0) win in Sweden, and star striker Romelu Lukaku was the match winner with a hat-trick.
Tedesco, with Belgium on Tuesday (8.45 p.m. / live ticker on sportschau.de) in Cologne, the next friendly opponent of the German team, applauded the deserved 1-0 with a header from Lukaku (35th). When the veteran scored his 70th international goal shortly after the break (49th) after a pass from Berlin’s Dodi Lukebakio, the former Schalke and Leipzig Bundesliga coach looked much more relaxed. Lukaku scored the final score in the final phase (82nd).
King Zlatan came on – but unlucky
The Swedes around Leipzig’s Emil Forsberg didn’t have a chance after their veteran star Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who had returned from a knee injury, came on 20 minutes before the end. “König Zlatan” failed shortly before the end with a good header opportunity – the fans cheered him euphorically anyway.
Tedesco had succeeded Roberto Martinez after the disappointing first round exit at the World Cup in Qatar. After the resignations of long-time leaders Eden Hazard and Toby Alderweireld, Tedesco had renounced ex-Dortmunder Axel Witsel and heralded a cautious generational change.
Sabitzer and Gregoritsch score for Austria
Ralf Rangnick also took the first step towards his home European Championship with Austria in a 4-1 (2-0) win over Azerbaijan. With a double strike, Munich’s loanee to Manchester United, Marcel Sabitzer (28′) and Freiburg’s Michael Gregoritsch (30′) gave Rangnick’s team a reassuring lead before the break in Pasching.
Sabitzer (51st) and Hoffenheim’s Christoph Baumgartner (68th) increased in the second half. The Austrians welcome Estonia on Monday. The German coaching duel between Rangnick and Tedesco will take place in Group F on June 17 in Belgium.