Numbers show extent of France's dominance over the Netherlands in landslide win

France hammered the Netherlands 4-0 in Kylian Mbappe's first match as Les Bleus captain to send a strong signal as EURO 2024 qualifying kicks off. 

The 2022 World Cup runners-up were in outstanding form as they blew away their opponents, with goals from Antoine Griezmann, Dayot Upamecano and a brace from Mbappe showing the gulf in class between the two teams. 

Ronald Koeman’s second reign in charge of the Dutch national team started on a disastrous note as the Oranje were handed a comprehensive beating by France, failing to even get a consolation goal. 

The match was one of many clashes between the two sides, and the lopsided nature of the game meant that a number of records were witnessed in the tie. 

France’s electric start to the match left the Netherlands dumbfounded as the visitors, and after only 1 minute and 55 seconds, Griezmann opened the scoring with Les Blues quickest goal since 2006 when Louis Saha scored after only 37 seconds against the Faroe Islands. 

The hosts must have thought they were playing the minnows again as it did not take long before they got their second. 

Upamecano, this time, made it 2-0 to France after only eight minutes, creating another record. 

The defender’s strike made France the first team to lead the Netherlands by two goals to nil inside the first game of a match since Belgium 72 years ago. 

France also became the first side to gain a two-goal lead over the Netherlands that early in a competitive fixture. 

But Les Blues were not done there, as first-time captain Mbappe scored a third after 20 minutes and 47 seconds, simultaneously reaching milestones for both teams. 

Mbappe’s goal meant that the Netherlands had conceded their earliest 3-0 deficit since 1919, when Sweden led the Oranje by 3-0 in the opening 20 minutes. 

It was also the first time since 1953 that France had led a team by three goals that early in a game. On that occasion, it was the hapless Luxembourg. 

Kylian Mbappe added another goal in the second half after a brief reprieve for the Netherlands, and his second goal cemented yet another milestone achievement. 

With a 4-0 victory over the Netherlands, Les Bleus equalled a record they had earlier set in 2017, by equalling the Oranje’s heaviest defeat in the last 60 years.