Ruthless France romps to record rout

NICE, France — Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick as France routed Gibraltar 14-0 for the biggest-ever victory in European Championship qualifying on Saturday.

Veteran striker Olivier Giroud came off the bench to score twice as Les Bleus broke the 13-0 record set by Germany against San Marino in 2006 for Euro 2008 qualifying.

"The team played extraordinarily well today," said Mbappe, who took his international tally to 46 goals. "This was a victory for teamwork."

Teenage midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery became France's youngest scorer on his international debut and then went off injured against a Gibraltar side that played most of the match with 10 players following an early red card.

"Being down to 10, already with 11 it's complicated for them, but it doesn't take away the credit for us even if we could have been more efficient, it's as much about respecting the opponent as scoring goals," France manager Didier Deschamps said. "Fourteen is not bad."

France's previous biggest win was 10-0 against Azerbaijan in a European qualifying game in 1995.

The only negative note for France was the injury to Zaire-Emery, the latest prodigy to break into the national team. Deschamps said initial tests showed the injury was not too serious.

"We were worried because the ankle flared up quickly," he told broadcaster TF1. "Scans showed there is no fracture, but it's a pretty big sprain. I'm sure he'd rather remember his first appearance for his goal than for anything negative."

Zaire-Emery started and confidently finished the move in the 16th minute to become France's youngest scorer at 17 years and 255 days. The Paris Saint-Germain player limped off after defender Ethan Santos trod on his right ankle just as Zaire-Emery smacked the ball into the top right corner. Santos, who had scored an own-goal in the third minute, was sent off.

World Cup runner-up France was already through to Euro 2024 as the Group B winner. This was a seventh straight win, with 27 goals scored and just one conceded. Rock-bottom Gibraltar has lost all seven matches and allowed 35 goals.

Inter Milan's Marcus Thuram poked home France's second goal after just four minutes. Following Zaire-Emery's fine goal, Mbappe made it 4-0 from the penalty spot in the 30th minute following a handball. Rightback Jonathan Clauss drilled in a fine shot from 20 meters; right winger Kingsley Coman struck from close range, and midfielder Youssouf Fofana's shot went under the goalkeeper's body to make it 7-0 after just 37 minutes.

Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot turned in the eighth following a goal-mouth scramble and Coman's deflected effort made it 9-0 midway through the second half.

Winger Ousmane Dembele netted before Mbappe side-footed home and then brilliantly lobbed the goalkeeper from 44 meters to make it 12-0 in the 82nd minute.

"I'd been watching (the goalie) for 20 minutes and he was always far off his line," Mbappe said. "I'm not sure why."

Giroud still had enough time to extend his international goal tally to 56 with a close-range bicycle kick as Les Bleus broke Germany's record.

France completes qualifying against Greece in Athens on Tuesday, when Gibraltar hosts the second-placed Netherlands.

Swiss, Romania qualify

Just one goal was enough to ensure the Dutch joined France in qualifying from Group B with a 1-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland.

Wout Weghorst's powerful drive separated the sides in Amsterdam in what is likely to be Irish boss Stephen Kenny's final competitive game in charge.

"In the end, it's about winning the game. We knew we needed the three points to qualify directly today, at home with our own fans," said Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo.

"We created a lot of chances, opportunities, but we have to score more goals and have more finesse in the final third."

Romania reached just a second major tournament since 2008 by ending Israel's chances of automatic qualification with a 2-1 win.

Despite being forced to play what should have been a home fixture in Hungary due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, Israel went in front after just two minutes through Eran Zahavi.

But Romania hit back quickly to level through George Puscas and secured its place in Germany thanks to Ianis Hagi, son of Gheorghe Hagi, the former Barcelona star who starred in Romania's run to the 1994 World Cup quarterfinals.

Switzerland also qualified despite being held 1-1 at home by Kosovo.

Romania is now in pole position to win Group I with a draw at home to the Swiss on Tuesday enough to secure top spot.

Wales' hopes of reaching a third consecutive European Championship were dealt a huge blow by a 1-1 draw away to Armenia.

Rob Page's men began the day with automatic qualification in their own hands, but fell behind early to Lucas Zelarayan's strike from outside the box in Yerevan.

Nair Tiknizyan's own-goal brought the visitor level before halftime, but the Welsh failed to find a winner and the result leaves them needing Croatia to slip up.

The 2022 World Cup semifinalist moved into second place in Group D thanks to a 2-0 win in Latvia as Lovro Majer and Andrej Kramaric struck inside the first 16 minutes.

Wales must beat already qualified Turkiye in Cardiff on Tuesday and hope Croatia fails to beat Armenia at home.

Agencies