France Maintains Perfect Pace in Euro Qualifier: Didier Deschamps’ squad earned its third consecutive victory and now leads the division with nine points, three more than Greece, which it will host on Monday.
France Maintains Perfect Pace in Euro Qualifier
Friday’s 3-0 victory over Gibraltar propelled France to the summit of Group B in the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.
Didier Deschamps’ squad earned its third consecutive victory and now leads the division with nine points, three more than Greece, which it will host on Monday. Both Gibraltar and Ireland will travel to Ireland in search of their first points of the season.
Oliver Giroud, France’s all-time leading scorer, scored his 54th international goal just three minutes into the match by heading in Kingsley Coman’s cross.
The AC Milan forward also tied Thierry Henry as France’s third-most capped player with 123 appearances.
Captain Kylian Mbappe doubled the advantage from the penalty spot just before halftime, and Aymen Mouelhi scored an own goal in the 78th minute after receiving his pass into the six-yard box.
“We came here to win, to be as effective as possible, and we only scored three goals, but it could have been five or six,” said coach Deschamps.
“We could have performed much better, but we know that Monday’s encounter will be much more difficult… the stadium will be packed. On Monday, we will do everything possible to end the season on a high note.”
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