Netherlands 1-2 France: Kylian Mbappe brace allows former World Champions to grab a slot at EURO 2024 next year
France and Netherlands locked horns in one of the intense clashes of the night which saw 2018 World Cup winners France trump Netherlands to book a place in next year’s European Championships. PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe was on target twice as his brace was instrumental for the French to overcome Dutch wall.
Kylian Mbappe- the French superstar
Kylian Mbappe has been one of the top performers of French football over the years since his World Cup triumph in 2018. His stats and numbers would be enough to express his might as he has been one of the lynchpins of France football since last few years. He has been proving his mettle for both club and country, as he is slowly on the verge of becoming one of France’s greats. Last night was not an exception, as Mbappe showcased his class once again as the French trumped a young Netherlands side, who was battling well to keep the former World Champions at bay. Mbappe stood as the difference between two sides as his double helped his country to qualify for the European Championship next summer.
The PSG forward, who had endured a difficult transfer window owing to a tumultuous rumor of him leaving France to ply his trade for Spanish heavyweights Real Madrid, was spearheading the attack. It took him seven minutes to outclass his opponents as he scored a sumptuous shot from Clauss’ inch-perfect cross, as the French side went 1-0 up within first ten minutes. But Dutch players showed their class and worth as they were keeping their strong opponents at bay by thwarting off several attacks.
Scored a second, outsmarting once more
The Dutch had close chances of scoring an equalizer, thus restoring parity in the game, but it seemed that fate was not in their way last night, as Veerman squandered their best chance few minutes later going down 0-1, and former PSG and Barca youngster Xavi Simons’ shot being thwarted off by a exuberant Maignan save. With France leading 1-0 at half-time, both teams would have expected to fire shots in the second sector, as the game was poised for a climactic finish.
But, it was Mbappe once again who stole the limelight from the Dutch, as he played a brilliant one-two before curling a bouncing ball past the opponent keeper, as the ball went over Verbruggen, thus leading the score line by 2-0, with more than half-hour to play.
The spirited Dutch were clever enough to pull back things in their favor when debutant from Feyenoord Quilindschy Hartman scored a late goal to give the Dutch hopes of grabbing a point, as the 21-year old star embarked upon his attack by a nutmeg and fooling Maignan, as the AC Milan custodian was expecting a cross. Few minutes later, Mbappe, in quest of a lurking hattrick, rattled the bar. But, it was enough for Didier Deschamps’ side as they cemented their top spot in Group B, with perfect six wins from six outings, as they would not be finishing outside top two, even if things go haywire in last few games.
Meanwhile, the Dutch, stay on third position, three points after Greece, who registered a comfortable victory against Republic of Ireland 2-0, as both of them would be up against each other on Monday, in Athens.
