Associated Press
AMSTERDAM (AP) â Kylian MbappĂ© helped France seal qualification for next year’s European Championship by scoring twice in a 2-1 win over the Netherlands on Friday for a perfect sixth win in Group B.
There had been talk before Friday’s match at the Johan Cruyff Arena of the 24-year-old France captain being out of form after failing to score in four matches for Paris Saint-Germain, but international duty quickly put an end to the goal drought.
Mbappé opened the scoring in just the seventh minute when he beat Lutsharel Geertruida to a cross from the right by Jonathan Clauss to volley past Brighton goalkeeper Bert Verbruggen, who was making his debut for the Netherlands.
It was MbappĂ©’s 41st international goal, drawing him level with France great Michel Platini. France’s all-time top scorer, Olivier Giroud, came off the bench in the second half but could not add to his 54 goals.
MbappĂ© doubled the lead in the 53rd minute when he exchanged passes with Adrien Rabiot on the edge of the Netherlands’ penalty area before curling a shot over Verbruggen.
Feyenoord midfielder Quilindschy Hartman, in his first full international appearance, made it 2-1 with 10 minutes to go when he beat Mike Maignan at the France goalkeeper’s near post. It was the first goal World Cup runner-up France had conceded in the qualifying group.
The Netherlands’ second defeat to France in qualifying left it in third place behind Greece, which beat Ireland 2-0 Friday to move up to second.
