Kylian Mbappe scored again to get Les Bleus to a 3 goal win over Azerbaijan in their qualifier to the world cup in Paris on Friday evening.
The 26 year old captain broke the stalemate on the eve of the first half and subsequently provided Adrien Rabiot with the second goal of France. Group D leaders with nine points after three games, substitute Florian Thauvin capped the affair late on to place Didier Deschamps in complete control of his side.
When they visit Iceland on Monday, France is allowed to officially reserve their spot in next year world cup.
France had to do without a few of their major striking force members, such as Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue and Bradley Barcola but still was able to find a means of getting the job done after a slow first half. Frank chances were taken by Mbappe, Malo Gusto and Hugo Ekitike but Azerbaijan keeper Shakhrudin Magomedaliyev stood firm.
When it was about to get frustrating, Mbappe created a piece of magic by dribbling through opposing players and sealing the deal with a low easy finish just prior to the first half.
Ekitike almost doubled the game just after the break when his shot struck the far post but it was Rabiot that gave it 2-0 in the 69th minute with a vigorous left-wing cross that was delivered by Mbappe.
In the feel-good scene, Florian Thauvin, who had not been involved in the squad in six years, entered the field to replace Mbappe with a minor ankle blow. The 2018 world cup champion then scored a volley in a minute in a classy volley, to score 3-0.
The victory extends the streak of the 26 World Cup and European Championship qualifiers that France has won without a loss over the last two years, which continues to emphasize their superiority even in a night that was not their finest.
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