NAfter a big show by Kylian Mbappé, world champion France can definitely defend his title at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The Equipe Tricolore won on the penultimate match day of Group D after a four-pack by the superstar 8: 0 (3: 0) against Kazakhstan and secured the direct ticket for the finals from November 21 to December 18 next year with first place.
Behind the French (15 points), Finland (11) moved up to second place in the play-off with a 3-1 (1-0) win in Bosnia and Herzegovina and kept the chance of their first participation in the finals. Ukraine (9) will have to play in Bosnia on Tuesday. Finland has the toughest possible task against France.
In Paris, Mbappé (6th, 12th, 32nd) made an early hat trick, hit number four followed in the 87th minute. For the first time, the PSG attacker scored more than two goals in the national shirt in one game. Karim Benzema (55./59.) Scored twice after the break and passed David Trezeguet (34) with 35 international goals. Adrien Rabiot (75th) and Antoine Griezmann (84th) also met.
The latter overtook Michel Platini in the national team’s list of goalscorers and, with 42 goals, took third place behind Thierry Henry (51) and Olivier Giroud (46).
Netherlands miss early qualification
The Netherlands have for the time being given the World Cup ticket, which they believed to be safe, from their hands. The Elftal lost a 2-0 lead in Montenegro on Saturday evening and had to be content with a 2-2 draw. This means the final against Norway on Tuesday (8.45 p.m.), which is only two points behind Oranje with 18 points.
Memphis Depay (26th, penalty kick / 54th) gave the team of Bondscoach Louis van Gaal the lead, but the hosts hit back. Ilija Vukotic (82nd) and Nikola Vujnovic (86th) scored shortly before the end. After nine games, the Dutch are at the top of the table with 20 points, Turkey and Norway are waiting with two points less.
A few hours earlier, pursuers Norway had given the Dutch the chance to qualify directly through the mistake in a goalless draw against Latvia. Now there is a showdown of the competitors in Rotterdam.
Barca striker Memphis Depay scored his ten and eleven goals in the ongoing World Cup qualification. Thus, the FC Barcelona striker is clearly ahead of Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, Harry Kane (England) and Israeli Eran Zahavi (all 8) in the scoring list.
Belgium takes part in the World Cup for the third time in a row
Belgium’s national football team has qualified for the finals of the World Cup for the third time in a row. The World Cup third from 2018 made everything clear on the penultimate match day of Group E with a lackluster 3-1 (1-0) against Estonia and can no longer be displaced from first place, which is the direct ticket for the tournament from November 21 to Means December 18, 2022 in Qatar.
Behind the Red Devils (19 points) Wales (14) have the best chances for the play-off place after a 5-1 (2-0) against Belarus. The Czechs (11) who were not playing on Saturday could overtake Estonia on the final day of the match if Wales lost to Belgium.
In Brussels, Christian Benteke (11th), Yannick Carrasco (53rd) and substitute Dortmund’s Thorgan Hazard (74th) were successful for the Belgians.
Kuntz wins with Turkey
Earlier in the evening, Turkey with coach Stefan Kuntz was able to win 6-0 (3-0) against Gibraltar in the majority. Kerem Aktürkoglu (11th), Halil Dervisoglu (38th/41), Merih Demiral (65th), the ex-Darmstadt Serdar Dursun (81st) and Mert Müldür (84th) scored for the Kuntz-Elf. On Tuesday, the Turks will visit Montenegro on the last day of the match.
Without super talent Erling Haaland, Norway did not go beyond 0-0 against Latvia. Before kick-off, the Scandinavians put a banner to draw attention to the human rights situation in Qatar.
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