Thanks to star striker Kylian Mbappé, France can slowly plan for next year’s World Cup.
Coach Didier Deschamps’ team won 3-0 (1-0) in the World Cup qualifying against Azerbaijan in Paris and is comfortably leading Group D with nine points. Second in the table is Ukraine with four points, which won spectacularly 5:3 (3:1) on Iceland. Only the first team will qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Lots of chances, but only Mbappé redeems France
The French pressed for the opening goal for 45 minutes. However, 14-0 shots on goal did not create a feeling of success. Only an individual performance from Mbappé in stoppage time redeemed the star ensemble: the Real Madrid striker dribbled past three visiting professionals and, in conjunction with ex-Frankfurt player Hugo Ekitiké, scored to make it 1-0 (45th + 2).
Adrien Rabiot increased the score to 2-0 after the break after a perfect pass from Mbappé (69′). Mbappé had to leave the field in the final phase (83′). He was replaced by Florian Thauvin, who made the final score 3-0 just a little later.