In the second group of qualifiers for the European Football Championship 2024, the French team defeated its guest, Gibraltar, by three clean goals. In the group’s other match, Greece beat the exhausted Irish team 2-1 at the end of the match.
| Giroud improved his goalscoring record, as the French won (Image: Getty Images) |
Gibraltar – France 0-3
The French national team, with a starting lineup consisting of Samba – Pavard, W. Fofana, Konate, Theo Hernandez – Griezmann, Chouamini, Camavinga – Koeman, Giroud, Mbappe, entered the match at the Algarve Stadium in Portugal as a potential player. The team’s top scorer. Olivier Giroud He marked his 123rd cap for the national team – joining Thierry Henry in third place on the relevant all-time list – and celebrated with a goal he scored in the third minute, easily heading home Kingsley Coman’s pass.
The goal did not change the mood of the match – the French attacked sloppy, but the Gibraltar goalkeeper, who had had a good day, kept his teammates in the game with stunning saves. But before the end of the first half, the team with the better chance scored their second goal: a penalty kick awarded after some video recordings for handling the ball. Kylian Mbappe He sold it.
After the turn, the French did not press matters, but they did score a goal: a Kylian Mbappe cross. Ayman Molhi He sent it into his own goal with a bloody striker’s move.
In the first half, the French managed to reach a few goalposts, but no more goals were scored – goalkeeper Didier Deschamps did half the required force.
Greece – Ireland 2-1
After a quarter of an hour of play, the fans of the OPAP Arena (formerly known as Hagia Szovia Stadium), which hosts AEK Athens matches, were able to celebrate a Greek goal: Ferencvaros Momosa was awarded a penalty kick after filming a video. Irish handshake. Anastasios Bakasitas Turn it into a goal.
But the Irish equalizer came soon after Nathaniel Collins His near goal was awarded by the referee only several minutes into the video.
Four minutes after half-time, the Greek side in blue scored again: Bakaszetasz’s clever shot might have gone into the bottom right corner, but Jorgosz Maszurasz was sure he had definitely hit it, so the move was perfect.
There were no more goals in the first half, but Irishman Matt Doherty controlled his nerves and brought down a Greek while protesting, so the match ended with an immediate red card.
European Championship qualifiers, third round
Group B
Greece – Ireland 2-1
Athens. g: Bakaszitasz (15th-11th), Mazurac (49th), or Collins (27th)
Gibraltar – France 0-3
Farrow. g: Giroud (third), Mbappe (45+2 – from 11), Molhe (78 – own goal)
| 1. France | 3 | 3 | – | – | 8-0 | +8 | 9 |
| 2. Greece | 2 | 2 | – | – | 5-1 | +4 | 6 |
| 3. Netherlands | 2 | 1 | – | 1 | 3-4 | -1 | 3 |
| 4. Ireland | 2 | – | – | 2 | 1-3 | -2 | 0 |
| 5. Gibraltar | 3 | – | – | 3 | 0 to 9 | -9 | 0 |
