Scoring barrage puts bite in Euro World Cup qualifiers

France’s Raphael Varane and Netherland’s Vincent Janssen in action during a 2018 World Cup 2018 qualifier between Netherlands and France in Amsterdam on Oct 10, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

Here's a recap of what happened on Monday:

Pogba fires France

France lived up to its billing as favorite in the group thanks to Pogba's goal and a late save by Hugo Lloris.

Sweden continued to show it can play without retired superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic, matching France at seven points after beating Bulgaria 3-0.

The Dutch have four points and, despite drawing 1-1 in Sweden last month, are already playing catch-up.

While Netherlands goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg looked like he could have stopped Pogba's shot, his second-half saves kept his team in the game.

"Maarten knows that he would usually save that (Pogba shot) with one hand in training," Netherlands coach Danny Blind said.

Injured Dutch stars Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben did not start and Quincy Promes limped off just 16 minutes into the match.

France coach Didier Deschamps said Pogba was "decisive ... not just because of his goal, but also by winning the ball in midfield and distributing well."

Meanwhile, Belarus took the lead in the 80th and Luxembourg equalized five minutes later in a 1-1 draw.

Portugal runs riot

Portugal's second 6-0 win inside four days was not enough to top the group, but points to a bright future.

Andre Silva, the Porto prospect, scored in the 12th, 22nd and 37th minutes before Ronaldo added a fourth midway through the second half in a comfortable visit to the North Atlantic.

Goals from Joao Moutinho and Joao Cancelo in stoppage time completed the drubbing.

Silva has replaced Eder, the Euro 2016 final scorer against France, and now has four goals in four games to complement Ronaldo's career tally of 66 for Portugal.

Ronaldo's goal on Monday came off a rising left-foot shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Switzerland was less impressive in a 2-1 win over Andorra, which had not scored in World Cup qualifying since September 2009.

It was worth waiting for, after Fabian Schaer's 19th-minute penalty and Admir Mehmedi's 77th-minute header put the visitors in control. Then Alex Martinez fired in a shot from distance in the 90th.

Switzerland has nine points, three ahead of Portugal.

Hungary is third, with four points, after winning 2-0 in Latvia.

Speedy Benteke

Belgium's blitz over Gibraltar underlined the talent gap between the squads FIFA has ranked No 2 and dead last.

Two lazy backward passes into the game, Benteke stole the ball, cut through the defense and made history.

Benteke scored two more, one a wonderful backheel, to lead Belgium to match its biggest away victory.

The other scorers were Mertens, Eden Hazard and Axel Witsel against a team playing its first World Cup qualifying campaign after gaining FIFA membership in May.

Belgium has a perfect nine points atop the group. Greece is the main challenger after it won 2-0 at Estonia to stay perfect through three matches. Also, Bosnia-Herzegovina beat Cyprus 2-0.

It was further evidence that the Red Devils, a dispirited team after an earlier-than-expected quarterfinal exit from Euro 2016, have found their groove under new coach Roberto Martinez.

"It is a terrific moment for Belgian football," Martinez said.

"It showed the focus we had."

 

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