Mbappe brace over Dutch fires unbeaten France to Euro 2024

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands – Kylian Mbappe fired France into next year's European Championships on Friday (Saturday, Manila time), scoring twice as his side kept their unbeaten qualifying record with a 2-1 win over a depleted Netherlands in Amsterdam.

The three points meant Didier Deschamps' men qualify for Euro 2024 with two games to spare, while 1988 champions Netherlands have to battle it out with Greece for second place in Group B.

"We've got qualification in the bag. We're very happy," said French midfielder Adrien Raboit.

There had been some concerns over Mbappe's form coming into the match, as he recovers from an ankle injury, but the Paris Saint-Germain star has a great record against the Oranje and took just seven minutes to strike.

A slick move down the right sliced opened the Dutch defense and Mbappe volleyed crisply in from a Jonathan Clauss cross to give Les Bleus the lead.

France thumped their hosts 4-0 in the reverse fixture in March, with the Dutch missing several key players after a virus swept through the squad.

The Dutch were again crippled by absences, with no fewer than 12 potential squad members injured or ill.

The absence of Atletico Madrid striker Memphis Depay and Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo posed a particular headache for manager Ronald Koeman, who said before the match he had "never been in such a situation" with so many missing.

It was halfway through the first period before the Dutch gave their fans in Amsterdam's Johan Cruyff Arena anything to cheer, Joey Veerman smashing a ball over the bar when it looked easier to score.

Koeman was also missing Barcelona playmaker Frenkie de Jong and Bayern Munich's centre back Matthijs de Ligt. The Dutch appeared short of ideas and fragile in defense, especially on the right.

A long-range shot on the stroke of half-time by Quilindschy Hartman nearly slipped through the gloves of French goalkeeper Mike Maignan but France went into the break deservedly ahead.

'Top country with top players'

Mbappe doubled the French advantage on 53 minutes with a sumptuous curled strike into the top corner that gave Bart Verbruggen no chance. 

It was the PSG striker's 42nd international goal, overtaking French legend