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Although four goals from Kylian Mbapp in an 8-0 defeat in Kazakhstan ensured that the French runner-up arrived with next year’s World Cup winner Belgium, the Netherlands did not join them after conceding two goals late on Saturday.
Belgium were less impressive in beating Estonia 3-1 at home, but they have an untouchable five-point lead over second-placed Wales, a 5-1 win over Belarus in Cardiff and a three-point lead over the Czech Republic in the playoffs.
After losing the last World Cup, the Dutch seemed ready to take a 2-0 lead over Montenegro with goals from Memphis Depay. However, Montenegro scored two goals in the final eight minutes to make it 2-2, which allows Turkey and Norway to take first place as they are two points adrift of a game.
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“I don’t know what to say. Incredible, ”Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk told the Dutch broadcaster USA. “It’s outrageous how we played in the second half.”
GROUP D
France were playing outside their usual Stade de France and took the pitch at the Parc des Princes, where Mbapp starred at Paris Saint-Germain. Just Fontaine was the first French player to score four goals in a 1958 World Cup match.
“The most important thing was to qualify, and we have players on our team who have never played in the World Cup,” said Mbapp, who was the star of the final. “It’s a dream to play for your country.”
He scored the first international trio in 32 minutes.
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Karim Benzema combined with Theo Hernandez to score his first goal and then Kingsley Coman scored twice, the second from a right-footed cross, with a strange header.
Mbapp has recovered from a disappointing Euro 2020, where he failed to score, and his last goal helped France win the Nations League final last month. Benzema also joined in that match.
Anxious Hernandez gave another cross from the left to get another assist, with Benzema encountering a 4-0 lead on the near post in the 55th. Four minutes later, Benzema played one-two with Mbapp for his second goal and 35th for France.
His collaboration with Mbapp is rapidly flourishing.
“We have shown that we have a good understanding and that we combine well together,” Benzema said. “Personally, I’m happy to play in another World Cup (after 2014).”
Adrien Rabiot and Antoine Griezmann also scored late before Mbapp emulated the great Fontaine, who scored 13 goals in ’58 as the all-time leading scorer in a single World Cup.
The runner-up enters the playoffs and Finland has a chance, although it will take on the next wide France.
Belgian Yannick Carrasco, in the middle, celebrated after scoring his team’s second goal at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels. – AP
The Finns won 3-1 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, despite playing more than 50 minutes, with one player less to go over Ukraine and enter second place. The home team lost the top 60 goal scorers of all time due to an injury to Edin Dze and they had no point.
GROUP E
Romelu Lukaku was not in front against Belgium as he is recovering from a minor injury, so Christian Benteke came in and put his team ahead against Estonia in the 11th minute. Aaron Ramsey was even faster, it took three minutes for Wales to make it 1-0 and Liverpool defender Neco Williams doubled the lead in the 20th.
Ramsey’s penalty put him 3-0 up shortly after the break.
Yannick Carrasco and Thorgan Hazard scored second-half goals for Belgium, while goals from Ben Davies and Conner Roberts put an end to a great night for Wales as they take on Belgium next. Gareth Bale made his 100th appearance in Wales
GROUP G
Turkey took advantage of Norway’s slip after finishing second in the knockout stages with a goal difference after beating Gibraltar 6-0. Veteran striker Burak Yilmaz did not score, but Galatasaray striker Halil Dervisoglu, 15, scored twice.
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Norway lost star striker Erling Haaland to a hip injury and did not break at home in Latvia in a 0-0 draw.
Depay’s penalty put the Netherlands ahead in the middle of the first half and Denzel Dumfries ’right-footed cross was deflected off the first post with a back heel in the 54th minute to score 37 international goals.
Turkey has a +1 advantage over their goals against Norway, looking ahead to their final group matches on Tuesday, where scoring could be decisive. Norway travels to the Netherlands without a fertile Haaland, and Montenegro takes Turkey.
France, Germany, Belgium and Denmark are among the 10 winning teams in Europe.
With the 10-set runners-up, the two teams that won a League of Nations team last year will join in the playoffs. The runners-up with the top six marks will play at home first in the semi-finals.
FIFA will hold a draw for the play-offs in Zurich on 26 November.
The three winners of the finals on March 29 will make up the squad of 13 European teams in Qatar.
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RESULTS 1. Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-3 Finland (D) 2. France 8-0 Kazakhstan (D) 3. Belgium 3-1 Estonia (E) 4. Wales 5-1 Belarus (E) 5. Norway 0-0 Latvia (G) 6. Turkey 6-0 Gibraltar (G) 7. Montenegro 2-2 Netherlands (G) |
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