Euro 2024 Qualifiers: Giroud, Mbappe Propel France Past Gibraltar

France continued their unbeaten streak in the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with a convincing 3-0 win against Gibraltar.

The victory solidified France's position at the top of Group B, further affirming their status as one of the tournament's favourites.

Led by coach Didier Deschamps, Les Bleus secured their third consecutive triumph, amassing a perfect nine points in the group stage. Their nearest competitors, Greece, trail by three points, setting the stage for an anticipated clash when the two sides meet in the next fixture.

The match against Gibraltar saw France assert their dominance from the early stages. In the third minute, Oliver Giroud, France's all-time leading goal scorer, added another feather to his cap by heading home a sublime cross from Kingsley Coman. This marked Giroud's 54th international goal.

Giroud's goal also propelled him into an esteemed club of French football legends. With his 123rd appearance, the AC Milan forward equalled the record of Thierry Henry, making him the third-most capped player in French football history.

Captain Kylian Mbappe extended France's lead just before halftime with a clinical penalty finish. Mbappe's influence continued in the second half when his well-placed pass into the six-yard box forced an own goal from Gibraltar's Aymen Mouelhi, further widening the scoreline to 3-0.

Coach Deschamps acknowledged that there were areas for improvement. "We came here to win, to be as effective as possible, and we only scored three goals, but it could have been five or six," he remarked. Deschamps emphasized that France needed to raise their level of performance, as they faced a tougher challenge against Greece in their upcoming fixture.

Looking ahead to the pivotal match on Monday, Deschamps expressed awareness of the formidable atmosphere awaiting his team, stating, "We're going to have a packed stadium. We're going to do everything we can to finish the season on a high note on Monday."