France dominated possession but struggled to break down a disciplined Austrian defense until Mbappé’s moment of brilliance. Didier Deschamps’ side now sits comfortably atop their group, needing just one more win to seal their place in the tournament.
Meanwhile, Portugal cruised to a 3-1 win over Iceland, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring his 123rd international goal to extend his record as the all-time leading scorer in men’s football. Bernardo Silva and João Félix also found the net, ensuring Portugal stayed ahead in their group standings.
In other qualifying action, Spain edged past Norway 2-1 with late drama as Álvaro Morata headed in the winner in stoppage time. The result pushes Spain closer to qualification while leaving Norway with a slim chance of progressing.
Italy bounced back from a recent stumble with a convincing 4-0 victory over Malta, easing some pressure on coach Roberto Mancini. Domenico Berardi opened the scoring, followed by strikes from Giacomo Raspadori, Davide Frattesi, and Gianluca Scamacca.
The Netherlands secured a vital 2-0 win over Greece, with Virgil van Dijk and Wout Weghorst on target, keeping their hopes alive in a tightly contested group.
As the qualifiers heat up, several teams are now on the verge of securing their spots, while others face must-win fixtures in the coming days.
Read next
"Fluffed Up: How Modern Tennis Balls Lead to Frustration and Injury"
Daniil Medvedev quickly realized he was in a difficult position at Roland Garros. Facing Britain’s Cameron Norrie in the opening round, he struggled to find his rhythm.
With his chances of progressing in one of the sport’s most prestigious events slipping away, the 29-year-old decided on an unusual
Manchester bids heartfelt farewell to beloved boxer Ricky 'the people's champion' Hatton
Thousands Gather in Manchester to Honor Ricky Hatton, Former World Champion Boxer
A large crowd filled the streets of Manchester on Friday to celebrate the life of Ricky Hatton, the former world champion boxer who passed away last month at the age of 46.
Hatton was widely admired in the
Heightened security and political strain loom over crucial Norway vs. Israel World Cup match
This will be the most heavily secured sports event in Norway since the 1994 Winter Olympics. Strict security measures are in place across Oslo, with a no-fly zone enforced over Ullevål Stadium. Amid the heightened precautions, it might be easy to overlook that Norway’s national team is close to