Parc des Princes is the venue where France hosted this World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan. We have all the player ratings.
With a victory tonight against bottom-placed Kazakhstan, France would secure the ticket to the World Cup in Qatar next year. Les Bleus were strong and confident on paper as well as on the field having beaten Finland in their last qualifying match in September.
By all means, the home side showed their opponents why they are the current World champions with eight goals in their bank. The visitors had absolutely no room for any developments as Didier Deschamp’s team completely dominated both halves.
Within the first eight minutes, France grabbed their first goal by none other than star forward Kylian Mbappe. Benzema released the ball to Theo Hernandez who cut the ball back for the young striker who made no mistake from the center of the box.
In the next six minutes, the local lads were 2-0 up courtesy of the PSG star again. Kazakhstan pressed too high on the field and Coman found himself alone with Pokatilov rushing to challenge him. But the Bayern speedster dodged past the opposing goalkeeper to square it to Mbappe who made a simple finish in the empty net.
Later in the 33rd minute, Mbappe racked his first-ever hat-trick for his country with the help of his teammates. A sublime cross from Coman was neatly planted in by the youngster for his third goal of the match before the players went in for the halftime break.
Just nine minutes after the break, Benzema found the net for the fourth goal of the game. Theo Hernandez burst with speed past Bystrov and Erlanov to cut the ball back to the Real Madrid attacker who poked it past the Kazakh stopper.
France literally tore the opponents apart as a Benzema and Mbappe combination gifted them with the fifth goal of the match on the hour mark. The PSG star was unselfish enough to simply pass it back to his teammate who tapped in for the home side.
In the 76th minute, Rabiot got his name included on the scoreboard with a towering header past Pokatilov. Griezmann’s floating corner kick was met smoothly by the Juventus midfielder for the sixth goal of the match.
France then went on to score the seventh and the eight for the home crowd as they showed no mercy for the visiting side. Griezmann scored an easy penalty and Mbappe added one more to his tally for the night as Les Bleus cruised past Kazakhstan.
Indeed, what a way to book their place in the prestigious tournament! The Kazakhs attempted to fight back during the first half, but the consistency and the ruthless nature of France made them indestructible.
Player ratings
France: Lloris (8), Kounde (7), Upamecano (8), Hernandez (8), Kante (7), Rabiot (8), Coman (9), Hernandez (8), Griezmann (8), Benzema (9), Mbappe (10).
Bench: Tchouameni (6), Diaby (6), Pavard (6), Lenglet (6), Ben Yedder (6).
Kazakhstan: Pokatilov (2), Erlanov (5), Taykenov (5), Alip (5), Bystrov (5), Marochkin (6), Zharynbetov (5), Kuat (7), Tapalov (7), Omirtayev (7), Aymbetov (5).
Bench: Zhaksylykov (6), Vassiljev (3), Kairov (6), Baytana (6).
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