A good three months after the defeat in the World Cup final, France’s national soccer team has made a brilliant start to 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 Equipe Tricolore: superstar Kylian Mbappé took over the captaincy from the retired goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
In addition to the twice successful striker from Paris Saint-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 goalkeeper Mike Maignan (90+5).
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.
Coman and Kolo Muani in the starting XI
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 seemed 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).