France smash records in 14-0 win, Dutch, Swiss, Romania qualify for Euro 2024

Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick in France’s record-breaking 14-0 thrashing of 10-man Gibraltar as the Netherlands, Switzerland and Romania booked their places at Euro 2024 on Saturday.

Les Bleus set a new record margin of victory in European qualifying and a national record in a demolition of Gibraltar in Nice.

Ethan Santos’ own goal, Marcus Thuram and 17-year-old Warren Zaire-Emery on his international debut had already put France in command before Santos’ red card on 18 minutes allowed Didier Deschamps’ men to run amok

Mbappe’s penalty made it 4-0 and Jonathan Clauss, Kingsley Coman and Youssouf Fofana all scored before half-time.

Adrien Rabiot, Coman again and Ousmane Dembele kept the score ticking over before Mbappe struck twice to seal his hat-trick.

Olivier Giroud then came off the bench to grab the final two goals and ensure the history books were re-written.

But the scoreline will raise fresh questions over the need for such clashes between giants and minnows in a congested fixture calendar.

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.

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