Kylian Mbappe marked his first game as France captain on Friday with two goals and an assist as the World Cup finalists romped to a 4-0 win against a depleted Netherlands side in a Euro 2024 qualifier in Paris.
Mbappe has succeeded long-standing France skipper Hugo Lloris and the new era got off to a flying start as the Paris Saint-Germain superstar set up the pink-haired Antoine Griezmann to score inside two minutes.
Dayot Upamecano bundled in the second goal in the eighth minute and Mbappe got his name on the scoresheet to make it 3-0 before the midway point in the first half.
Mbappe wrapped up the victory in emphatic fashion with two minutes remaining, before the Netherlands’ Memphis Depay had a stoppage-time penalty saved by goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
It was a display of ruthless efficiency from Didier Deschamps’ side against a Dutch team missing several key players after a virus swept through their squad.
At least their toughest assignment in qualifying Group B is now out of the way and their next game is at home to Gibraltar on Monday.
The French now visit the Republic of Ireland but it is going to take something remarkable for them to fail to qualify for next year’s Euro given the top two teams in each group go through.
“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 told broadcaster TF1.
Of his own game, Mbappe added: “I try to do my job, be decisive and bring everyone else with me. It worked well today but this is just the beginning so let’s not get carried away.”
Dutch coach Ronald Koeman referred to the virus that hit his squad as he reacted to the defeat.
“You know the circumstances, but I don’t want to make excuses for this mediocre performance,” he said. “There is nothing very positive to take from today.”
There were four changes to the France team compared to the World Cup final, with Lloris and centre-back Raphael Varane having retired -– they were honoured on the Stade de France pitch before kick-off -– while Ousmane Dembele is injured and Olivier Giroud started on the bench.
