The Sunday Mail
Kylian Mbappe marked his first game as France captain with a brace in a 4-0 demolition of the Netherlands in Euro 2024 qualifying on Friday, while Romelu Lukaku scored a hat-trick as Belgium began a new era with a 3-0 victory in Sweden.
In Paris, France were three goals up before the midway point in the first half of their group B opener against a Dutch side depleted by a virus. Mbappe, who has taken over the armband from long-term skipper Hugo Lloris, set up his vice captain Antoine Griezmann to open the scoring inside two minutes at the Stade de France.
Griezmann, with his hair dyed pink, then set up the second goal in the eighth minute as his free-kick was bundled in from close range by Dayot Upamecano after Dutch goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen failed to clear the danger.
Mbappe then ran through to make it 3-0 after Randal Kolo Muani had cleverly left an Aurelien Tchouameni through ball, and the Paris Saint-Germain superstar wrapped up the win in emphatic fashion later on.
A perfect evening for Les Bleus was completed when Mike Maignan, France’s new first-choice goalkeeper, saved a stoppage-time Memphis Depay penalty.
“We didn’t want to disappoint our fans. This was our first game back here after the World Cup and we really wanted to pick up where we left off there, except for the final,” Mbappe, who now has 38 goals in 67 appearances for his country, told broadcaster TF1.
This was the first time the Netherlands had lost by a four-goal margin since going down to defeat by the same scoreline against France in Paris in August 2017. France’s next game is away to the Republic of Ireland on Monday, while the Netherlands host Gibraltar. Gus Poyet’s Greece beat Gibraltar 3-0 in Faro, Portugal, on Friday, with Giorgos Masouras, Manolis Siopis and captain Anastasios Bakasetas all scoring for the 2004 European champions.
Earlier in the week, Harry Kane became England’s all-time leading goalscorer as the Three Lions enjoyed a perfect start to Euro 2024 qualifying by winning 2-1 away to Italy on Thursday, as Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice on his record 197th cap in Portugal’s 4-0 win over Liechtenstein.
Kane netted his 54th goal for England in his 81st international appearance from the penalty spot in Naples after Declan Rice had fired the visitors into an early lead.
The England captain moves clear of the record mark he had shared with Wayne Rooney. “Thanks to everyone who’s helped me get to this stage. It’s a great night. We haven’t won in Italy for so long, so to score and win this game, is just special,” said Kane.
Gareth Southgate’s men gained some measure of revenge for their defeat by the Azzurri in the Euro 2020 final. In their first match since bowing out in agonising fashion to France in the World Cup quarterfinals, England were dominant in the first 45 minutes.
Rice rifled home his third international goal on 13 minutes after Italy failed to clear a corner.
Another set piece led to Kane’s record-breaking moment as Giovanni Di Lorenzo handled inside the area.
The Tottenham striker banished the memories of his missed penalty later on against France in Doha by sending Gianluigi Donnarumma the wrong way.
Ronaldo marks historic night
Ronaldo marked Roberto Martinez’s bow as Portugal boss with another historic night in Lisbon.
The 38-year-old, who was dropped from the Portuguese starting XI during the World Cup, set a new record for men’s international appearances by passing the previous mark of 196 caps held by Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa.
Joao Cancelo fired home the opening goal after just eight minutes but it was not until Bernardo Silva doubled Portugal’s lead early in the second half that the floodgates opened.
Ronaldo made it 3-0 from the penalty spot before blasting home a free-kick from the edge of the area for his 120th international goal. — supersport.
