Vice world champions France kept their clean sheet thanks to Kylian Mbappé’s 40th international goal in the European Championship qualifier.
The star ensemble won 1-0 (0-0) against Greece on Monday evening at the Stade de France. With the optimal haul of twelve points from four games, Les Bleus are clearly on course in Group B.
Mbappé redeemed the oppressively superior French with a penalty kick (55th). The superstar is just one goal away from catching up with fourth-placed Michel Platini on the French FA’s all-time leaderboard.
With the Greeks, Stuttgart’s Konstantinos Mavropanos (69th) saw the red card after an emergency brake on Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani, before the central defender had already caused the penalty.
Mavropanos caught Antoine Griezmann in the penalty area with a stretched leg on the head. The attacker was bleeding, but he was able to continue playing with a turban.
Greece goalkeeper Odisseas Vlachodimos was able to fend off Mbappé’s unplaced shot. However, since several Greeks ran into the penalty area too early, the penalty kick was repeated. In the second attempt, Mbappé remained ice cold.
France’s closest rivals remain Greece with six points from three games. The Netherlands have three points, but Elftal have only played two games due to their participation in the final tournament of the Nations League. Ireland (three points) and Gibraltar (no point) complete the group.