2023-10-13 23:04:00
Kylian Mbappé scored a double in Amsterdam, enough to overtake Michel Platini in the ranking of French scorers. PIROSCHKA VAN DE WOUW / REUTERS
The France team defeated the Netherlands in Amsterdam this Friday. A success synonymous with qualification for the European Championship.
Special correspondent in Amsterdam
«We are at home, we are at home!» The 2,700 supporters of the French team did not shy away from their pleasure in the magnificent Johan Cruyff Arena, communing with the Blues to celebrate qualification for the Euro. On the edge of the pitch, Didier Deschamps hugs his staff while the rain falls with force and vigor on the roof of the Amsterdam enclosure. The job is done. The objective achieved. It must be said that the vice-world champions, guided by their genius as captain Kylian Mbappé, author of a double which now ranks him above a certain Michel Platini in the history of French scorers, held their place against the Netherlands (1-2) Friday evening.
For the fifteenth time in a row, since Euro 1996, France will be present in an international tournament, and this qualification rewards perfect qualifiers so far with six victories in as many matches. Including two against the Netherlands. A true work of art. There are still two matches left, against Gibraltar and Greece (November 18 and 21), to conclude on the same tone and arrive at the Euro next summer (June 14-July 14) with full confidence. It’s no secret, but when you have Mbappé in your ranks, even in poor form and silent for four matches with PSG, you are more likely to have pleasant evenings. This was the case on Friday evening since the captain of the Blues took his responsibilities and almost single-handedly put the poor Oranje defense led by Virgil van Dijk to torment. A first time being on the receiving end of a magnificent action initiated by Coman and Clauss on the right side, deliciously relayed by Griezmann whose one-touch delivery allowed the Marseillais to delight the Parisian (0-1, 7th) at the point penalty.
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The magic of Mbappé
Like the more than 50,000 spectators at the Johan Cruyff Arena, stunned and speechless, Ronald Koeman’s men quickly realized that the evening was going to be tricky. Only a few timid incursions from Simons (27th) or Veerman (28th) allowed them to believe it. The now fourth top scorer in the history of the France team, in mourning this week, came out of his box again to extinguish the Netherlands and their public. After a delicious one-two with Adrien Rabiot, Mbappé worked his magic with a sumptuous right curl from outside the area (1-2, 53rd). Genius. And his seventh double with the Blues, at only 24 years old. If Hartmann’s goal (1-2, 83rd) woke up the Dutch public at the end of the match, the courageous captain almost extinguished this ardor with his strike on the crossbar (86th) which could have given him a hat-trick.
Despite a little late heat, Deschamps and his gang ended up managing their lead in a stadium where the French supporters were already celebrating qualification for the next European Championship with the Marseillaise. Germany is looking forward to them next summer. Kylian Mbappé and his partners will arrive there ambitiously. Like always.
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