France vs Netherlands LIVE!

France made it a miserable return to international management for Ronald Koeman as they ruthlessly dispatched of the Netherlands in a high-profile Euro 2024 qualifier on Friday night. Kylian Mbappe marked his first game as Les Bleus’ new full-time captain with two excellent goals as the dire Dutch were routed by an early 21-minute goal blitz in a one-sided heavyweight Group B affair in Paris.

Antoine Griezmann and Dayot Upamecano were also on target for Didier Deschamps’ rampant side, who sent out an emphatic first message on the long road to Germany and showed no signs of a lingering World Cup hangover in their first outing since the agony of losing on penalties to Argentina in the Qatar showpiece three months ago.

To add further insult to injury for the depleted Netherlands, Memphis Depay saw a last-gasp penalty awarded for handball against Upamecano easily saved by AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan. Follow France vs Netherlands reaction live below!

France vs Netherlands highlights

• Depay misses last-gasp spot-kick for Dutch

• GOAL! Mbappe rifles home late fourth

• GOAL! Captain Mbappe makes it 3-0

• GOAL! Upamecano quickly doubles lead

• GOAL! Griezmann fires France ahead early

22:22 , George Flood

A real sense of Deja Vu for the sorry Netherlands tonight...

21:46 , George Flood

New captain Mbappe nets twice as Les Bleus show no signs of a World Cup final hangover with an emphatic statement in their opening Euro 2024 qualifier.

A miserable return to the Dutch hotseat for Ronald Koeman.

Full-time

21:41 , George Flood

France 4-0 Netherlands

PENALTY MISSED

21:41 , George Flood

94 mins: What a wretched night for the Netherlands and that just adds the final insult to injury.

A poor spot-kick from Depay is repelled by Maignan, who also holds his acrobatic follow-up.

PENALTY TO NETHERLANDS

21:40 , George Flood

93 mins: The Netherlands have a chance for a late consolation after Upamecano can’t get his hand out of the way of a Weghorst header.

The referee points straight to the spot.

21:39 , George Flood

91 mins: Another proud moment for the Thuram family as Nice midfielder Khephren - another son of Les Bleus legend Lillian - comes on for his senior France debut.

He quickly looks to test Cillessen with a tame low shot.

21:38 , George Flood

90 mins: Four minutes of added time for the Dutch to endure in Paris.

Hernandez has his name taken.

GOAL! France 4-0 Netherlands | Kylian Mbappe 88'

21:33 , George Flood

88 mins: Absolutely masterful from the new France captain!

He twists and turns majestically, sitting down both Timber and Blind before picking out the bottom corner.

Outrageous - and he now moves clear of Benzema as France’s outright fifth-highest scorer of all time aged 24.

21:33 , George Flood

86 mins: A sad sight on a miserable evening for the Netherlands as debutant Geertruida limps off with what looks like a hamstring injury.

On comes Manchester United full-back Tyrell Malacia.

21:31 , George Flood

85 mins: France think they have a fourth goal as Rabiot charges forward and picks out the run of substitute Diaby, who takes the pass in his stride before firing past Cillessen.

But the Bayer Leverkusen star had gone too early and the offside flag is raised. A subsequent VAR check confirms the decision.

A rare reprieve for the Netherlands.

21:26 , George Flood

80 mins: Another late flurry from the Netherlands, with Malen’s pull-back from the byline turned behind by Maignan.

The AC Milan ‘keeper then beats Ake to the ball from the resulting corner.

Lloris’ heir apparent wants to hold onto that clean sheet.

21:24 , George Flood

77 mins: A dreadful mistake from Klaassen, who gifts possession to Mbappe just outside the box and is relieved as the French skipper fires straight at Cillessen.

Konate then bursts forward for France and is chopped down by Blind, who receives a booking.

21:23 , George Flood

75 mins: The Dutch are still battling away here but they certainly don’t look like even grabbing a consolation goal as things stand.

Deschamps now rings the changes with three points safely in the bag, with Edouardo Camavinga, Olivier Giroud and Youssouf Fofana all on.

Off go Tchouameni, Kolo Muani and Griezmann.

21:17 , George Flood

72 mins: Another free-kick in a dangerous position for Depay but it’s driven straight into the wall.

21:16 , George Flood

70 mins: Konate into the book for a bad lunge on Malen as the Netherlands up the tempo with 20 minutes remaining.

Can they at least give us a semi-interesting finish?

21:13 , George Flood

67 mins: Koeman makes two more changes as Donyell Malen and Davy Klaassen replace Berghuis and Simons.

Borussia Dortmund’s Malen was not even named in the original Dutch squad before being called up as cover for the injured Steven Bergwijn.

21:12 , George Flood

66 mins: Rabiot gets across his marker at the near post from a corner but sends his header well over.

Changes from both managers now as Daley Blind replaces De Roon and earns his 100th Netherlands cap in less than ideal circumstances.

Deschamps withdraws Coman in favour of Bayer Leverkusen attacker Moussa Diaby.

21:10 , George Flood

62 mins: Geertruida goes right through the back of Mbappe and deservedly joins Rabiot in the book.

A tough night for the Netherlands debutant at the back.

21:04 , George Flood

58 mins: A decent strike from Depay that is scooped over by Maignan.

But France break at lightning pace after the corner, with the rapid Coman leading the way.

He ends up picking out Kolo Muani with a lovely lofted pass, but the Eintracht Frankfurt frontman loses all composure and blasts his volley high and wide.

That should have been 4-0.

21:03 , George Flood

56 mins: A bit of a strange stoppage as Tchouameni spots an issue with the ball, stops, picks it up and chucks it out of play before the referee has blown his whistle.

He’s handed Depay a decent free-kick opportunity not too far outside the French box.

21:01 , George Flood

55 mins: It’s been a quiet start to this second half.

France continue to dominate possession with the Netherlands seemingly in damage limitation mode.

Timber and Geertruida have swapped places at the back, with the former moving into the centre alongside Van Dijk.

20:57 , George Flood

51 mins: Dazzling feet from the lively Kolo Muani to weave past a couple of orange shirts and find Mbappe, who cuts inside and bends a shot that is gathered easily by Cillessen.

20:53 , George Flood

48 mins: Brief appeals from Mbappe for a penalty after a bouncing ball almost goes in his favour inside the box, but he’s squeezed out by Timber.

Definitely not a spot-kick.

Second half

20:52 , George Flood

Back underway in Paris.

Can France add further to their handsome lead or will the Dutch stage an unlikely comeback?

No further changes from Koeman at half-time. Or from Deschamps just yet.

20:51 , George Flood

By the way, that Mbappe goal was his 37th in 67 France caps.

That makes him the joint-fifth highest scorer in French history, level with Karim Benzema.

Only Michel Platini, Antoine Griezmann, Thierry Henry and Olivier Giroud now sit ahead of the PSG superstar.

20:48 , George Flood

The Opta stats make for dire reading for the Netherlands, who had not trailed 3-0 so early in a game since all the way back in 1919 (against Sweden).

They had not fallen 2-0 behind in eight minutes since 1951.

Also, Griezmann’s opening goal after one minute and 55 seconds was France’s fastest since Louis Saha against the Faroe Islands in 2006.

Opta also point out that France had not led 3-0 so early in a game since 1953.

Brutal.

20:39 , George Flood

Utterly ruthless from Les Bleus as they easily ward off any World Cup final hangover with Griezmann, Upamecano and new skipper Mbappe all on target early on.

The injury-plagued Netherlands have had chances, most notably through Depay, and thrown on Weghorst but it’s been a terrible evening so far that could yet get much worse.

Some return to the job for Koeman.

Half-time

20:34 , George Flood

France 3-0 Netherlands

20:34 , George Flood

47 mins: Depay with a lofted ball to Van Dijk at the back post, but it’s easily guided behind off the head of Konate.

There won’t be enough time for the corner.

20:33 , George Flood

46 mins: Van Dijk uncorks a decent strike from long-range that flies over the crossbar, but he ends up with a free-kick for his troubles after a crude barge from an over-eager Kolo Muani.

There will just be enough time to take it...

20:32 , George Flood

45 mins: Just the one minute of added time will be played at the end of the first half.

20:31 , George Flood

43 mins: The French fans have been in fine voice throughout this one-sided first half.

They are relishing this unexpected walk in the park.

Rabiot receives the first yellow card of the evening for bringing down De Roon near the touchline.

20:29 , George Flood

42 mins: Somewhat of a lull before the break with France content to ease up the pressure for now and the Netherlands currently struggling to get a toe on the ball.

Watch: Mbappe scores brilliant third for France

20:26 , George Flood

20:25 , George Flood

37 mins: Konate with a fine foray forward as France ruthlessly hunt a fourth goal before the interval.

This time the Netherlands are alert at the back to snuff out the danger.

At the other end, Rabiot makes a decisive block and Ake misplaces a simple pass to stall the attack.

Young Simons is trying to provide a spark for the Oranje.

20:23 , George Flood

35 mins: A vital scooped save from Cillessen low down to his right keeps the scoreline at 3-0 after Konate had risen high to connect with a pinpoint set-piece delivery.

France are all over the Netherlands still in Paris, looking like scoring every time they go forward.

20:21 , George Flood

33 mins: Taylor is the unfortunate player to make way for Weghorst as Koeman deploys a change in formation.

A first senior international start to forget for the young Ajax midfielder.

20:21 , George Flood

31 mins: Manchester United forward Wout Weghorst will be on shortly for the Netherlands.

Koeman has seen enough and feels he has to make a first-half change.

A golden chance for his side to pull a goal back is spurned as a sliding Depay steers Simons’ low cross wide following a midjudgement by Konate.

Upamecano did just enough to put him off in the end.

Watch: Mbappe and Griezmann combine for France opener

20:18 , George Flood

20:18 , George Flood

29 mins: The Netherlands have to get a grip defensively here to prevent a cricket score.

Kounde gets forward down the right flank for the first time tonight and produces a cross for Mbappe, who shrugs off the attentions of Timber before missing the target with a tough half-volley.

20:16 , George Flood

25 mins: Hernandez breaks down the left for France and ends up delivering a cross that morphs into an accidental shot.

It looks like it’s sailing in over the head of Cillessen for a moment, before the former Barcelona ‘keeper unconvincingly claws it behind.

The offside flag is up.

GOAL! France 3-0 Netherlands | Kylian Mbappe 21'

20:09 , George Flood

21 mins: Another goal for Les Bleus! And a brilliant one at that.

After receiving an initial pass from Mbappe, Tchouameni feeds a superb low ball in towards Kolo Muani, who instead lets it run through to Mbappe with a super dummy, deceiving debutant Geertruida in the process.

The newly-appointed captain, who sprinted at the speed of light to make it into the box, then takes a touch before coolly wrong-footing a desperate Cillessen at his front post.

This is getting humiliating for the Dutch - 3-0 down with a full 70 minutes still to play.

France absolutely relentless here. Sublime.

20:08 , George Flood

20 mins: Fine attacking play from the Dutch, who continue to ask questions in search of a route back into this game.

Depay and Wijnaldum link up nicely before a strong save from Maignan denies the Roma loanee.

20:06 , George Flood

18 mins: A fresh air shot from Wijnaldum after being picked out by Taylor, whose inventive cross is then steered away expertly by Upamecano.

20:04 , George Flood

16 mins: Almost a third for rampant France as Kolo Muani pulls back from the byline for Coman in the six-yard box, but it’s a goal-saving challenge from Manchester City defender Ake.

The Netherlands are being carved open so easily so far tonight.

And Mbappe has been quiet...

20:02 , George Flood

A brutal stat for the Netherlands...

20:02 , George Flood

13 mins: That’s a fine block from Upamecano to thwart Depay’s hopeful strike.

To their credit, the Netherlands are seeing a lot of the ball now and trying to make things happen.

But is it too little, too late already?

20:00 , George Flood

11 mins: The shell-shocked Dutch have tried to respond to that double setback but a tame shot from inside the box is easily held by Maignan in the France goal.

Berghuis is then almost put in, but it’s solid defending from Hernandez not to give him a sniff.

GOAL! France 2-0 Netherlands | Dayot Upamecano 8'

19:55 , George Flood

8 mins: What World Cup hangover?!

Griezmann turns from scorer to provider as a deliciously dangerous free-kick delivery from the right catches Cillessen in no man’s land.

The ball ends up deflecting through his legs and in off Bayern Munich defender Upamecano.

The Stade de France erupts once again.

An utter Dutch disaster.

GOAL! France 1-0 Netherlands | Antoine Griezmann 2'

19:49 , George Flood

2 mins: What a start for Les Bleus!

They have been threatening already and get their early reward after Griezmann dispossesses the unexpecting Taylor with a fine challenge.

Kolo Muani then quickly finds Mbappe, who tees up Griezmann - with that shock of pink hair - to sweep home first time from just inside the box.

Ruthless! The Dutch with a potential mountain to climb already in Paris.

KICK-OFF

19:48 , George Flood

We are underway in this huge Group B qualifier!

France are in white tonight with blue shorts, while the Netherlands continue with their slightly jarring two-tone orange effort from the World Cup.

19:46 , George Flood

We will have a minute’s applause ahead of kick-off to remember late France icon Just Fontaine.

The man who holds the record for the most goals scored at a single World Cup sadly died earlier this month at the age of 89.

19:43 , George Flood

One of the most stirring renditions of La Marseillaise you are ever likely to hear.

Spine-tingling stuff.

19:40 , George Flood

Here come the teams in Paris! Led out by respective captains Mbappe and Van Dijk.

A great roar from what is expected to be a capacity crowd at the Stade de France.

‘Allez Les Bleus’ is already ringing out around the ground as the players line up for the national anthems.

‘Wilhelmus’ to be followed by ‘La Marseillaise’...

19:38 , George Flood

A tribute to five players who racked up 454 France caps between them.

Benzema, Lloris and Varane will obviously be particularly big misses.

The international retirement of Manchester United defender Varane took many by surprise, given that he is still only 29.

19:35 , George Flood

Retired quartet Hugo Lloris, Raphael Varane, Steve Mandanda and Blaise Matuidi are all being honoured on the pitch ahead of kick-off in Paris.

A nice touch from Les Bleus.

Karim Benzema is said to have rejected an invite to the ceremony, meanwhile.

19:33 , George Flood

Final preparations at the Stade de France! Kick-off in this huge Group B curtain-raiser is a little over 10 minutes away.

19:23 , George Flood

Here’s the man of the hour!

France’s new captain soaks up the adulation of his adoring fans in Paris.

World Cup changes

19:20 , George Flood

It’s four changes in total to the France team that last appeared in the World Cup final in Qatar three months ago, by the way.

The retired Hugo Lloris and Raphael Varane make way for Mike Maignan and Ibrahima Konate, while the injured Ousmane Dembele is replaced by Kingsley Coman. Randal Kolo Muani is in over Olivier Giroud, as we said.

It’s six changes from the Dutch side that also lost to eventual champions Argentina on penalties after a thriller, but at the last-eight stage.

Only Jurrien Timber, captain Virgil van Dijk, Nathan Ake and Memphis Depay retain their starting berths.

Andries Noppert, Denzel Dumfries, Frenkie de Jong, Cody Gakpo and Steven Bergwijn are all unavailable, while Daley Blind is on the bench as he hopes to reach a century of international caps tonight.

Jasper Cillessen, Lutsharel Geertruida, Kenneth Taylor, Georginio Wijnaldum, Steven Berghuis and Xavi Simons all come in.

19:12 , George Flood

Expecting plenty of noise from those Dutch fans this evening.

19:07 , George Flood

The French fans are already in fine voice in Paris, with a decent number of Orange-clad Dutch supporters also having made the journey.

Stat attack

18:54 , George Flood

Per Opta Sports, tonight is the first game in which the Netherlands have fielded three first-time starters since a 2-1 away Euro 2016 qualifying win over Kazakhstan back in October 2015.

And what a time to do it, away against mighty France in Paris. No pressure, lads...

First starts for young Dutch trio

18:51 , George Flood

An interesting first selection of his second Oranje reign by Ronald Koeman, glut of absences notwithstanding.

Jasper Cillessen beats out Mark Flekken to start in goal with no Andries Noppert, while Feyenoord’s Lutsharel Geertruida earns his senior international debut in defence.

They have him listed at centre-back alongside Virgil van Dijk with Jurrien Timber on the right of a back four, but surely that’s the wrong way around?

The fit-again Georginio Wijnaldum is back in midfield after missing the World Cup, joined by Maarten de Roon and 20-year-old Ajax starlet Kenneth Taylor, who earns only his fourth senior cap with no Frenkie de Jong or Joey Veerman.

Manchester United’s Wout Weghorst is only a substitute as Memphis Depay is joined in attack by Steven Berghuis and teenage PSV talent Xavi Simons, who gets only his second cap.

First starts for all of Geertruida, Taylor and Simons - talk about a baptism of fire! Particularly for Geertruida, who is likely to go head to head with Mbappe.

Netherlands lineup

18:35 , George Flood

The Netherlands team is also out...

Starting XI: Cillessen, Timber, Geertruida, Van Dijk, Ake, De Roon, Taylor, Wijnaldum, Berghuis, Simons, Depay

Deschamps picks Kolo Muani over Giroud

18:33 , George Flood

So that France lineup is pretty much as we expected, with the exception of Randal Kolo Muani getting the nod over Olivier Giroud up front.

The Eintracht Frankfurt forward made quite an impression at the World Cup and helped to spark Les Bleus’ second-half comeback off the bench in the final.

France have listed their lineup as a 4-3-3, with Griezmann joining Tchouameni and Rabiot in a midfield trio.

France lineup

18:28 , George Flood

The French team is in...

Starting XI: Maignan, Kounde, Konate, Upamecano, Hernandez, Tchouameni, Rabiot, Griezmann, Coman, Mbappe, Kolo Muani

Mbappe vows to be ‘unifier’ as France captain

18:26 , George Flood

Those expecting to see a marked shift in Mbappe’s approach to media duties after his appointment as skipper are likely to be left disappointed as he vowed to take a different approach to Lloris.

The 24-year-old also vowed to “unify” France’s old and new generations as they plot routes to further success after that Qatar heartbreak.

“I am not going to change,” he said. “Everyone is a captain based on their personality. I'm going to be a different captain. I don't think the coach made me captain thinking I was going to do the same as Hugo.

“I know my words make noise. People will see me a little more often but I want to leave room for others so I must not monopolise the media space.

“Putting aside the responsibilities, it is above all a great pleasure. When the coach asks you if you want to become captain, your mouth immediately says yes. I did not think about it at all.

“He wants me to be a unifier, and lead the team. And that I can be a link between the old guard and the new generation and lead this team to win titles.

“Players who have played with me know that my first obsession is to win. And I don’t win alone, but with the team.”

Mbappe holds clear-the-air talks with Griezmann

18:16 , George Flood

The recent appointment of Kylian Mbappe as the new France captain to succeed Hugo Lloris has provoked something of a melodrama at Clairefontaine, with Antoine Griezmann said to be very disappointed at being overlooked.

However, speaking at a pre-match press conference on Thursday, the PSG star said he had held clear-the-air talks with his experienced vice-skipper and would not be his superior.

"It’s an expected reaction. I told him I would have had the same reaction," Mbappe said.

"He is perhaps the most important player during the Deschamps era. I am not his hierarchical superior.

"He and I will be hand in hand to try to allow his team to impose itself on a global level. If he has something to say to the group, I’ll sit down and listen.

“He has an experience of playing for France that I don’t have.

“He is held in high esteem and is liked by the whole squad so it would be a shame for us not benefit from his experience, and his zest for life as well.”

18:10 , George Flood

An early peek inside that French dressing room in Paris, with Deschamps’ side in white tonight it would appear...

France vs Netherlands prediction

18:00 , George Flood

Such is the strength in depth available to Didier Deschamps, there is little reason to imagine France dropping off even despite their World Cup heartache.

France to win, 3-1.

Netherlands team news

17:54 , George Flood

An illness outbreak has hampered Dutch preparations for their trip to Paris tonight.

Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, the star of their World Cup campaign, was one of five players to withdraw from Ronald Koeman’s squad on the eve of this game, along with Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt, Newcastle centre-back Sven Botman, PSV Eindhoven midfielder Joey Veerman and Anderlecht goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.

The Netherlands were already without Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong due to a thigh injury suffered in El Clasico, as well as former Tottenham winger Steven Bergwijn.

Stefan de Vrij, Ryan Gravenberch, Donyell Malen and Kjell Scherpen have all been drafted in late to cover those multitude of absences. Veerman was an initial replacement for De Jong.

Koeman is also missing influential Inter Milan wing-back Denzel Dumfries, who is with the squad tonight but serving a suspension after his dismissal in the World Cup quarter-final defeat by Argentina.

Feyenoord’s Lutsharel Geertruida could be handed his senior international debut as a result this evening as the Dutch likely switch to a four-man defence, with Georginio Wijnaldum also back after missing the World Cup with a broken leg.

Jasper Cillessen and Mark Flekken will compete for the starting goalkeeper berth with Andries Noppert out injured, while Daley Blind could earn his 100th cap.

Predicted Netherlands XI: Cillessen; Geertruida, Timber, Van Dijk, Ake; Berguhis, De Roon, Wijnaldum; Malen, Weghorst, Depay.

France team news

17:45 , George Flood

Record-breaking Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe is the new French captain - with Antoine Griezmann serving as his vice-skipper - after the post-World Cup retirements of the likes of Hugo Lloris, Raphael Varane, Karim Benzema and Steve Mandanda.

Didier Deschamps is also without several players due to injury tonight, including Chelsea duo Wesley Fofana and N’Golo Kante and Arsenal defender William Saliba plus Ousmane Dembele, Christopher Nkunku and Presnel Kimpembe.

AC Milan’s Mike Maignan should take over from Lloris between the posts, with Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate likely to partner Dayot Upamecano in central defence, flanked by Jules Kounde and Theo Hernandez.

The midfield axis of Aurelien Tchouameni and Adrien Rabiot looks set to continue, with Olivier Giroud - France’s record goalscorer - still spearheading a dangerous attack ahead of Mbappe, Griezmann and Kingsley Coman aged 36 after Benzema’s retirement.

Predicted France XI: Maignan; Kounde, Konate, Upamecano, Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Coman, Griezmann, Mbappe; Giroud.

Where to watch France vs Netherlands

17:39 , George Flood

TV channel: In the UK, the game is being broadcast live on Viaplay Sports. Coverage gets underway at 7.35pm. A subscription costs £14.99 a month, or £11.99 a month if you opt for a 12-month contract.

Live stream: Viaplay Sports subscribers can stream the game live online on the Viaplay website.

Welcome to France vs Netherlands LIVE coverage!

17:36 , George Flood

Good evening and a very warm welcome to the Evening Standard’s LIVE coverage of France vs Netherlands in Euro 2024 qualifying.

It’s a huge heavyweight clash to begin the long road to Germany for these two giants of European football, who will both be looking to make an early statement in a stacked Group B.

Kylian Mbappe is the new French captain after a number of retirements since their World Cup final heartbreak in Qatar, while Ronald Koeman is back for a second stint in charge of the Dutch national team - who have been hit hard by a virus in camp this week.

Kick-off at the Stade de France tonight is at 7:45pm GMT, so stay tuned for all the latest team news, thoughts from both camps, lineups and live minute-by-minute updates of the game itself!

This should be anything but dull in Paris.