France superstar nets four goals to help reigning world champions secure berth for next year’s World Cup with 8-0 thrashing of Kazakhstan; vows to go to Qatar with aim of winning title again
France’s Kylian Mbappe celebrates his goal against Kazakhstan in Paris on Saturday. Pic/Getty Images
World champions France booked their place at next year’s World Cup in Qatar in style as Kylian Mbappe fired in four goals in an 8-0 thrashing of Kazakhstan at the Parc des Princes on Saturday. Karim Benzema scored twice and there were further goals for Adrien Rabiot and Antoine Griezmann whose penalty marked his 42nd goal for France, taking him ahead of Michel Platini. Only Thierry Henry (51) and Olivier Giroud (46) have scored more for France. The French will be joined at the finals by neighbours Belgium as the world’s top-ranked team saw off Estonia 3-1 in Brussels to ensure top spot in Group E ahead of Gareth Bale’s Wales who beat Belarus 5-1 in Cardiff.
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Spectacular show
The On the sixth anniversary of the 2015 attacks in Paris which claimed the lives of 130 people, France put on a spectacular show for their supporters. Mbappe set the ball rolling when he put the world champions ahead after just six minutes. The PSG star added a second six minutes later and completed his first hat-trick for France with a header just after the half-hour. Leading 3-0 at the break, France turned up the heat even more in the second half as Benzema struck twice before Rabiot and Griezmann had their moments in the spotlight. It was fitting that Mbappe had the final say, stroking home his fourth to complete the rout. France top Group D, leaving Finland and Ukraine to scrap over second place.
‘It’s a dream’
“A World Cup is a dream, an aim, it’s everything and it’s a unique chance to play in a team that can win it. We’re going over there to win it,” Mbappe said. Meanwhile, Belgium had dropped just a single point in qualifying up to this point and knew that win over Estonia would guarantee them top spot in Group E. Manager Roberto Martinez, however, was without first-choice strikers Romelu Lukaku, Mitchy Batshuayi and Touri Tielemans who were all injured. That meant a call-up for Christian Benteke and the Crystal Palace forward did not disappoint, taking his chance to press his claims by netting the opener after just 11 minutes. Yannick Carrasco doubled the lead eight and although Erik Sorga pulled one back for the visitors, Thorgan Hazard put the game to bed shortly after.
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