Doug McIntyre
Soccer Journalist
Qualifying video games for Euro 2024 continued on Friday, with the primary three groups in addition to host nation Germany qualifying for subsequent summer time’s event.
Listed below are the largest takeaways from Friday’s slate of video games.
Mbappé stars as France finishes the job
This match between two longtime continental powerhouses was all France proper from the beginning. Les Bleus jumped out to an early lead when Kylian Mbappé — who else? — scored simply six minutes into the competition. Arguably the planet’s finest participant, Mbappé doubled the guests benefit shortly after halftime in Amsterdam.
Quilindschy Hartman pulled one again late for the hosts, however it wasn’t sufficient. France might’ve added one other to make it 3-1 after, however Mbappé’s effort clattered off the crossbar:
France is now an ideal 6-0 in qualifying, and its most spectacular victory but despatched Didier Deschamps’ facet to Euro 2024 with two qualifying matches to spare. Extra to the purpose: it cements Les Bleus standing because the title favorites subsequent summer time.
Belgium punches its ticket
With the Belgians and Austrians nicely forward of the remainder of the pack in Group F, there was little doubt that each would make the primary occasion. However Belgium can nonetheless have a good time being among the many first group of countries — following the host Germans — to ebook a spot at subsequent summer time’s event.
Austria did make Belgium work for its 3-2 victory, which noticed Everton midfielder Amadou Onana despatched off within the second half. It will not be lengthy earlier than they seal the deal themselves.
Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo additionally headed to the primary occasion
It was nearer than they anticipated, with Slovakia scoring twice late to make issues fascinating after Portugal ran out to a 3-0 leads on two strikes by Ronaldo and one from Gonçalo Ramos.
Both approach, the Portuguese will gladly take it. And the 38-year-old Ronaldo — who grew to become the primary males’s participant to scored 125 worldwide objectives in Friday’s sport — definitely will.
Dutch loss leaves Oranje in hassle
Even on factors with Greece heading into Friday’s encounter with Mbappé et al, The Netherlands wanted a win to remain in second place in Group B. As a substitute, they ended the day on the skin wanting in due to the Greeks’ triumph in Eire.
The dual outcomes arrange a scrumptious match between the Netherlands and Greece lower than three days from now, when the 2 sides meet simply exterior of Athens, although the Dutch do nonetheless have an additional sport in hand.
Republic of Eire formally out
It was inevitable the way in which the Boys in Inexperienced had performed all through qualifying, however that does not make the truth that Eire — which misplaced 2-0 to Greece in Dublin Friday — will not play at Euro 2024 any simpler to swallow for lengthy struggling Irish followers.
It is the second straight miss for Eire, which certified for consecutive Euros for the primary time in 2012 and 2016. Eire’s participation is not assured in 2028 both, regardless of being one of many co-hosts (together with England, Northern Eire, Scotland and Wales): underneath UEFA guidelines, simply two of these nations will obtain automated berths. For the sake of the event, this is hoping the Irish are capable of reverse their current pattern and discover a approach in.
Doug McIntyre is a soccer author for FOX Sports activities. Earlier than becoming a member of FOX Sports activities in 2021, he was a workers author with ESPN and Yahoo Sports activities and he has coated United States males’s and ladies’s nationwide groups at a number of FIFA World Cups. Comply with him on Twitter @ByDougMcIntyre.
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