In a thrilling round of European Championship qualifying matches on Friday, Belgium, France, and Portugal emerged as the first teams to secure their spots in the highly anticipated 2024 tournament.
The star-studded teams secured their berths with impressive victories, led by the exceptional performances of Kylian Mbappé and Cristiano Ronaldo.
France’s Flawless Run Continues
Kylian Mbappé was the star of the show for France as he netted twice, including a sensational long-range strike, to guide his team to a perfect qualifying campaign. France faced off against the Netherlands in Amsterdam and secured a 2-1 win, marking their sixth consecutive victory in Group B.
Mbappé opened the scoring in the seventh minute, volleying a cross from Jonathan Clauss past Dutch goalkeeper Bert Verbruggen. This goal was Mbappé’s 41st international strike, placing him on par with French legend Michel Platini.
In the 53rd minute, Mbappé doubled the lead with an exquisite shot after a skillful exchange of passes with Adrien Rabiot. However, Feyenoord midfielder Quilindschy Hartman pulled one back for the Netherlands in the closing stages of the match, marking the first goal conceded by France in the qualification campaign. Despite this, the win solidified France’s position at the top of the group.
Portugal’s Ronaldo sets scoring record
Cristiano Ronaldo continued his remarkable international career by notching two goals in Portugal’s 3-2 victory over Slovakia. Ronaldo converted a penalty in the 29th minute and later capitalized on a cross from Bruno Fernandes to secure his seventh goal in six qualifying matches. With these goals, Ronaldo extended his record tally of international goals to a staggering 125 in 202 appearances.
Portugal’s performance has been nothing short of exceptional, boasting a flawless record of seven wins out of seven matches and a remarkable goal difference of 27-2. Slovakia became the first team to breach Portugal’s defense in this qualification campaign.
Belgium’s Lukaku Shines
In Group F, Belgium clinched their place in the 2024 European Championship with a thrilling 3-2 victory against Austria. Romelu Lukaku, the leading goal scorer in the qualification campaign with nine goals, continued his prolific form by finding the net once again.
Dodi Lukebakio also contributed with two goals for Belgium. Lukaku’s strike in the 58th minute, following a precise pass from Jérémy Doku, secured a 3-0 lead for the Red Devils. Despite Marcel Sabitzer’s late penalty for Austria, Belgium held on for the win.
However, they had to do so with 10 men after Amadou Onana received a second booking. This win gave Belgium 16 points from six games, securing their qualification.
In summary, Belgium, France, and Portugal showcased their footballing prowess, securing their spots in the 2024 European Championship with remarkable performances from their star players. These victories set the stage for what promises to be an electrifying tournament next year.
