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regular-article-logo Monday, 23 December 2024

France, Portugal, Belgium clinch European Championship 2024 qualification

It was Kylian Mbappe’s 41st international goal, drawing him level with France great Michel Platini

AP/PTI Paris Published 15.10.23, 09:40 AM
Kylian Mbappe.

Kylian Mbappe. Getty Images

Kylian Mbappe and Cristiano Ronaldo both scored twice to help France and Portugal secure spots at next year’s European Championship with a perfect record in qualifying, with Belgium also clinching a berth in Germany on Friday.

The three European powerhouses all needed a win to qualify for the tournament and their star strikers made sure they got them.

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Mbappe’s two goals — including a long-range strike for the second — helped secure a 2-1 win over the Netherlands in Amsterdam for a perfect sixth win in Group B.

Mbappe opened the scoring in just the seventh minute when he beat Lutsharel Geertruida to a cross from the right by Jonathan Clauss to volley past Brighton goalkeeper Bert Verbruggen, who was making his debut for the hosts.

It was Mbappe’s 41st international goal, drawing him level with France great Michel Platini.

Mbappe doubled the lead in the 53rd when he exchanged passes with Adrien Rabiot on the edge of the Netherlands’ penalty area before curling a shot over Verbruggen.

Feyenoord midfielder Quilindschy Hartman made it 2-1 with 10 minutes to go. It was the first goal France have conceded in the campaign.

Cristiano Ronaldo.

Cristiano Ronaldo. Getty Images

125 and counting

Ronaldo’s double improved his record tally of international goals to 125 in 202 appearances and led Portugal to a 3-2 win over Slovakia.

Ronaldo converted from the penalty spot in the 29th minute, sending Slovakia goalkeeper Martin Dubravka the wrong way to double the lead to 2-0.

Forward Goncalo Ramos had given the hosts the lead with a header 11 minutes earlier.

Romelu Lukaku scored again and Dodi Lukebakio added two more for Belgium, which had to hang on with 10 men to beat Austria 3-2 in Vienna and secure advancement from Group F.

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