France smash record in 14-0 win as Dutch, Swiss and Romania qualify for Euro 2024

Kylian Mbappe is ecstatic after scoring against Gibraltar at Nice, France on Saturday. Pic/AFP

Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick in France's record-breaking 14-0 thrashing of 10-man Gibraltar as the Netherlands, Switzerland and Romania booked their places at Euro 2024 on Saturday. Les Bleus set a new record margin of victory in European qualifying and a national record in Nice. Ethan Santos's own goal and Marcus Thuram had already opened the floodgates before 17-year-old Warren Zaire-Emery scored. That was Zaire-Emery's last contribution as the PSG midfielder was forced off with an ankle injury, but a red card for Santos after just 18 minutes allowed the World Cup finalists to run amok.

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Mbappe's penalty made it 4-0 and Jonathan Clauss, Kingsley Coman and Youssouf Fofana all scored before half-time. Adrien Rabiot, Coman again and Ousmane Dembele kept the score ticking over before Mbappe struck twice to seal his hat-trick in style. The France captain lobbed Dayle Coleing from just inside the Gibraltar half to register his 300th career goal aged just 24. Olivier Giroud then came off the bench to grab the final two goals and ensure the history books were re-written.

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But the scoreline will raise fresh questions over the need for such clashes between giants and minnows in a congested fixture calendar. "We did everything to make this score happen. That is the ambition that there is in this team," said France boss Didier Deschamps.

Just one goal was enough to ensure the Dutch joined France in qualifying from Group B with a 1-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland. Wout Weghorst's powerful drive separated the sides in Amsterdam in what is likely to be Irish boss Stephen Kenny's final competitive game in charge. "In the end, it's about winning the game. We knew we needed the three points to qualify directly today, at home with our own fans," said Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo. "We created a lot of chances, opportunities, but we have to score more goals and have more finesse in the final third."

Despite being forced to play what should have been a home fixture in Hungary due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, Israel went in front after just two minutes through Eran Zahavi. But Romania hit back quickly to level through George Puscas and secured their place in Germany thanks to Ianis Hagi, son of Gheorghe Hagi who inspired the Romanians famous run to the 1994 World Cup quarter-finals. Switzerland also qualified despite being held 1-1 at home by Kosovo.

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