France vs Netherlands match
The first round of Euro 2024 qualifications begins with a mega heavyweight fight in Paris. France plays at home for the first time since their painful World Cup final penalty shootout loss to Argentina in Qatar three months ago. With a number of seasoned players having retired, Kylian Mbappe captains Les Bleus after being chosen ahead of Antoine Griezmann.
It's a difficult first task for France, who extended manager Didier Deschamps' contract in January, on their way to Germany next summer, with the Netherlands also likely to fight for first place in Group B, which also includes the Republic of Ireland, Greece, and Gibraltar. The Netherlands was also defeated by Argentina at the World Cup, and Ronald Koeman has taken over as manager following the retirement of Louis van Gaal.
Koeman's preparations for this first game back have been less than ideal, with his team being plagued by a sickness this week, forcing teenage trio Lutsharel Geertruida, Kenneth Taylor, and Xavi Simons to make their debuts. Deschamps prefers Randal Oko Muani to Olivier Giroud for the time being. Follow France vs. the Netherlands live in Euro 2024 qualification below!
58 minutes: Depay's good shot is scooped over by Maignan.
France, on the other hand, takes off at breakneck speed after the bend, with the quick Coman leading the way.
He eventually finds Kolo Muani with a magnificent lofted cross, but the Eintracht Frankfurt striker loses his cool and smashes his shot high and wide.
The score should have been 4-0.
56 minutes: A bizarre pause occurs when Tchouameni notices a problem with the ball, stops, scoops it up, and chucks it out of play before the referee blows his whistle.
He's given Depay a nice free kick not too far outside the French box.
55 mins: This second half has started slowly.
France maintains possession, while the Netherlands appears to be in damage-limitation mode.
Timber and Geertruida have changed positions at the back, with the former taking Van Dijk's spot.
51 minutes: The energetic Kolo Muani weaves past a couple of orange shirts to find Mbappe, who cuts inside and bends a shot that Cillessen comfortably gathers.
48 minutes: Mbappe has a brief penalty appeal after a bouncing ball almost goes in his favour inside the box, but he is pushed away by Timber.
Certainly not a spot-kick.
The second half
Paris is back in action.
Will France extend their commanding advantage, or will the Netherlands launch an unexpected comeback?
Koeman made no additional substitutions at halftime. Neither from Deschamps.
Mbappe's goal was his 37th in 67 France appearances.
It puts him in joint fifth place in French history, alongside Karim Benzema.
Only Michel Platini, Antoine Griezmann, Thierry Henry, and Olivier Giroud are now ahead of the PSG star.
The Opta statistics are bad news for the Netherlands, who haven't trailed 3-0 thus early in a game since 1919. (against Sweden).
They hadn't trailed 2-0 in eight minutes since 1951.
In addition, Griezmann's goal at one minute and 55 seconds was the quickest by France since Louis Saha scored against the Faroe Islands in 2006.
According to Opta, France has not led a game 3-0 thus early since 1953.
Brutal.
Les Bleus were merciless early on, comfortably warding off any World Cup final hangover, with Griezmann, Upamecano, and new skipper Mbappe all on target.
The Netherlands have had opportunities, most notably via Depay, and have brought on Weghorst, but it's been a miserable evening so far that might go much worse.
Some people return to work for Koeman.
Half-time
France defeated the Netherlands 3-0.
