France put four goals past Netherlands in 2018 World Cup Qualifying

France players celebrate their goal

Thomas Lemar scored twice and Kylian Mbappe once as France thrashed 10-man Netherlands in Paris to go top of World Cup qualifying Group A.

Antoine Griezmann gave France the lead before Monaco’s Lemar scored a 25-yard spectacular and a tap-in.

Mbappe, who joined Paris St-Germain from Monaco on Thursday, added another.

Cristiano Ronaldo became Europe’s all-time record scorer in World Cup qualifiers with a hat-trick as Portugal beat the Faroe Islands 4-1 in Group B.

France had looked well on course to win Group A until losing in Sweden in June, but recovered well in a dominant performance against the Netherlands.

It was Lemar who was the centre of attention, on the day that Arsenal attempted to complete a late deal to sign him from Monaco.

The first of the France forward’s two goals was superb, a 25-yard first-time shot steered into the top corner after a weak Dutch clearance.

His second was much easier, a tap into an empty net following Griezmann’s break as Dick Advocaat’s side lost their discipline.

Griezmann had given Didier Deschamps’ side a 14th-minute advantage, slotting under Jasper Cillessen after playing a one-two with Olivier Giroud.

BBC Sports reports that the Atletico Madrid striker, however, was involved in controversy when his theatrical fall led to Dutch midfielder Kevin Strootman being sent off for a second bookable offence after an hour.

A furious Strootman remonstrated with the France forward before leaving the field, and could only watch as Lemar’s double made it 3-0, before Mbappe finished stylishly following an exchange of passes with Griezmann for his first international goal.

Defeat leaves the Netherlands, who replaced Danny Blind with Advocaat after an awful start to their qualifying campaign, three points adrift of a play-off place with three matches left.

They dropped to fourth, but retain a chance of qualification largely thanks to Sweden’s 3-2 defeat in Bulgaria, who go third after Ivaylo Chochev scored their winner 11 minutes from the end.

Luxembourg won a World Cup qualifier for only the fifth time in their history as they defeated Belarus 1-0.

-P.M. NEWS Nigeria