While France won easily over the Netherlands to start their Euro 2024 qualification campaign, Kylian Mbappe scored his first goals as the team’s captain.
After only two minutes, Antoine Griezmann curled in from Mbappe’s assist to give the hosts the lead.
Defender Dayot Upamecano rushed in to make it 2-0 six minutes later.
Then, after driving in and scoring his 37th goal for France, Mbappe added a second late in the game.
Griezmann apparently felt left out of Mbappe’s captaincy team, but there was no evidence of tension between the two as they celebrated Mbappe’s first goal of the game in the 21st minute.
A magnificent solo effort by the Paris St. Germain striker two minutes from time saw him send the Dutch players toppling in an attempt to block his shot before hammering a finish into the bottom corner.
Deep into stoppage time, Memphis Depay had a chance to score a consolation goal for the guests, but his penalty was saved.
That put an end to Ronald Koeman’s first game as manager of the Netherlands in his second stint, even though the flu illness that caused five players to be sent home on the night of the game did not assist his cause.
Goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, attacker Cody Gakpo, midfielder Joey Veerman, and defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Sven Botman also have the disease.
But, Austria, whose 4-1 victory over Azerbaijan featured two goals from Manchester United’s Marcel Sabitzer, prevented France from taking first place in their group.
