Netherlands must tremble
France, Belgium and Portugal get their ticket to the European Championship
October 13, 2023, 11:35 p.m
After host Germany, the first three top nations secure their ticket to the European Championships. Portugal wins thanks to Ronaldo, France can thank Mbappé. Belgium is also celebrating, but things are slowly becoming critical for the Netherlands.
Austria’s national soccer team didn’t use the first match ball for the European Championship ticket – and had to watch the Belgians and hat-tricker Dodi Lukebakio celebrate in their own stadium. Coach Ralf Rangnick’s team lost 2:3 (0:1) against Belgium, which in turn qualified for the 2024 European Championships in Germany. Vice world champions France and Portugal also eliminated the last doubts – the Dutch have to tremble.
France won against Oranje 2-1 (1-0) in Amsterdam and got their sixth win in their sixth qualifying game. The Dutch are under pressure after their second defeat and slipped to third place in the table behind Greece, who won 2-0 (2-0) in Ireland. Bonds coach Ronald Koeman’s team now has to win on Monday in Athens in order to draw level with Greece on points and maintain their chances of getting a ticket to the European Championship.
Double packer Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. didn’t miss their match point in Porto in the 3:2 (2:0) win against Slovakia. Ronaldo (29th) converted a hand penalty to make it 2-0, Goncalo Ramos (18th) had put the 2016 European champions in the lead. Portugal was able to overcome the first goal of the current qualification by David Hancko (69th) because Ronaldo struck again (72nd). But Stanislav Lobotka made it exciting again (80th).
There remains a ray of hope for Austria
Everything was ready for the Austrians’ big party in Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium – even the absence of the injured regular players David Alaba and Marko Arnautovic shouldn’t be an obstacle. But former Bundesliga professional Lukebakio (12th) caused a setback early on. After the break, Lukebakio scored twice for German coach Domenico Tedesco’s team (55th, 58th). But Austria came back: First Bayern Munich’s Konrad Laimer shortened the score (73′), then Dortmund’s Marcel Sabitzer brought the Rangnick team close to winning a point with a hand penalty (84′). Belgium’s Amadou Onana was shown a yellow-red card (78′).
Nevertheless, Rangnick’s team still has a good chance of qualifying: Austria can book their ticket with a win on Monday in Azerbaijan, and Belgium can also provide support in the evening game against Sweden.
France’s superstar Kylian Mbappe (7th) drew level with the great Michel Platini with his 41st international goal – and a little later surpassed the 1984 European champion with his second goal of the evening (53rd). Mbappe is now in fourth place among France’s most successful goalscorers, with Olivier Giroud at the top (54th). Quilindschy Hartman scored for Elftal (83′).
The Dutch, who last missed a European Championship in 2016, held up well against the runner-up, but had nothing to counter Mbappe’s extra class. The Paris St. Germain superstar took advantage of the first chance to take the lead, then scored beautifully at the start of the second half after a one-two with Adrien Rabiot. On the other side, the Dutch celebrated the supposed goal: But Donyell Malen’s goal (55th) did not count because of offside.