Mbappe Double Leads France to 4-0 Victory Over Netherlands in Euro 2024 Qualifier Opener

Kylian Mbappé’s captaining France could not have begun any better, with the World Cup finalists routing the Netherlands 4-0 in their Euro 2024 qualifier at the Stade de France, with three goals coming in the opening 21 minutes.

The beginning of this impressive start was after two minutes when Antoine Griezmann, who it was rumoured to be disgruntled with not receiving the captaincy, was set up by Mbappé. Griezmann, with his vibrant pink hair, embraced his new captain in what looked to be a gesture of no ill will regarding the captaincy decision.

Dayot Upamecano, the Bayern Munich centre-back, doubled the lead from close range and then Mbappé put himself on the scoresheet twenty-one minutes later, sweeping in from an Aurélien Tchouaméni pass. Mbappé's second goal of the night was a thing of beauty, as a series of feints and dummies left the Dutch backline in disarray before he fired low from the edge of the box.
Romelu Lukaku was also a standout performer on Friday, with the Belgian netting a hat-trick in their impressive 3-0 victory away in Sweden.

The start Domenico Tedesco got as the new coach of Belgium was perfect, thanks to the win at the Friends Arena, as the team seek to revitalize after their failed quest to qualify for the Qatar World Cup at the group stage. Nevertheless, Janne Andersson's Sweden was a minor challenge in the end.

The first goal was scored by Lukaku in the 35th minute. It was via a cross from the left side of the field, provided by Dodi Lukebakio, who had been giving the Sweden defense a difficult time since the start. Lukaku's header beat Hjalmar Ekdal in the air.

Romelu Lukaku showcased his goalscoring prowess as his double helped Belgium to an eye-catching victory over Sweden in their Euro 2024 qualifier.


The Inter striker put his side in the driving seat with a first-half strike, latching onto an inviting low cross from Dodi Lukebakio. Lukaku then compounded Swedish misery early in the second period after Lukebakio once again picked him out with a low delivery which he duly converted from close range.

The emphatic win was overshadowed though by Zlatan Ibrahimovic's return to international football in the 73rd minute. The towering Swede had been absent due to injury and his introduction prompted an ear-splitting roar from the crowd. At 41 years, five months and 21 days, Ibrahimovic broke Dino Zoff's 1983 record of the oldest man to ever appear in a European Championship qualifier.

Romelu Lukaku ended the game with a bang as the home defence crumbled yet again, allowing him to net his hat-trick with an easy tap-in and an eventual victory for the visitors.
Elsewhere, Manchester United's loanee Marcel Sabitzer bagged a brace as Austria achieved a comfortable 4-1 home victory over Azerbaijan in their very first Group F qualifier.

Austria's Marcel Sabitzer scored twice to set them on the way to a 4-1 win in their World Cup qualifying match against Azerbaijan, with Christoph Baumgartner and Michael Gregoritsch also finding the net.

Sabitzer's first goal arrived just before the half-hour mark as he fired in a pass from Baumgartner in the area. Gregoritsch then doubled the hosts' lead a minute later, before Sabitzer made it 3-0 early in the second period, curling a stunning free-kick into the corner of the net.

Emin Makhmudov gave Azerbaijan a goal back when he finished from close range, but Baumgartner ensured that the three-goal advantage was restored with his own goal.

Serbia's World Cup qualifier with Lithuania saw Aleksandar Mitrovic, who is facing a domestic ban for an incident involving a referee, named in their starting line-up. Goals from Dusan Tadic and Dusan Vlahovic gave the Serbs a 2-0 victory.