Mbappe captain’s first match: helped defeat Holland, celebrated with Griezmann and overtook Benzema in goals

At the same time carried out the legends.

The match between France and the Netherlands (4:0) seemed to be the main poster of the first round of qualifying for Euro 2024. How Mbappe and company will react to the defeat in the World Cup final, how the Dutch will play under Koeman, what will be the new French team, from which the leaders left.

We have received answers to some questions.

The French team saw off the legends. Benzema was also invited – he did not come

Even before the match at the Stade de France, a touching farewell ceremony was held for the legends who ended their careers in the national team. Hugo Lloris, Blaise Matuidi, Steve Mandanda and Rafael Varane took the field.

They said goodbye to the fans, making the very claps that became the symbol of Euro 2016.

Get French Football News added this fact: Karim Benzema was also invited to the ceremony, but he replied that he would not come.

The French defeated the Dutch in 20 minutes. Griezmann and Mbappe especially tried

And in the match everything was decided in the first 20 minutes. Already on the 2nd, Mbappe rolled out under the blow of Griezmann, who put the ball into the corner – 1:0. This is France’s fastest goal since October 2006.

8th minute – Griezmann took a free-kick, goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen (who Van Gaal missed at the 2022 World Cup) made a mistake on the way out, Upamecano put the ball into the goal.

21st minute – Tchuameni cut through the entire defense of the Netherlands national team with one pass and brought Mbappe one on one. Kilian calmly hammered in the third.

Separately, it is worth noting the role of Randal Colo-Mouani in the third ball of the French. The pass from Tchuameni went just to the striker of Eintracht, but he missed the ball – and with this movement, the entire defense of the Dutch national team was stumped.

Top clubs are already hunting for Colo-Muani, and Eintracht are asking for 100 million euros. Randal was so good in this match that such a price tag does not seem sky-high. 

Since 1953, the French team has not led by 3 goals by the 21st minute. Then there was the match against Luxembourg, which ended 8-0, and Just Fontaine left with a hat-trick.

Mbappe is king. Perfectly played the first match with the captain’s armband in the national team

At the end, Mbappe scored again – he has a double. This was Kylian’s first match with the French captaincy. And he tried very hard – it’s not even about attacking actions, Mbappe practiced a lot in defense.

Separately, it is worth noting how beautifully he extinguished a possible scandal. Everyone knew that Griezmann really wanted the captain’s armband. First, Kilian explained the situation as beautifully as possible at a press conference:

“I spoke with Antoine. He was disappointed, and understandably so. Told him I would have had the same reaction. He is perhaps the most important player of the Deschamps era. He has experience. If he has something to say, I’ll sit down and listen.”

And then Mbappe passed to Griezmann’s goal already in the 2nd minute: the captain and vice-captain of the national team (yes, Antoine is now vice-cap) celebrated together. No controversy!