Kylian Mbappe scored a penalty to hand France a narrow 1-0 victory over 10-man Greece in their Euro qualifier at the Stade de France on Monday.
The Paris Saint-Germain superstar and France captain had his first penalty kick saved early in the second half, but was granted a second attempt due to a Greek defender’s incursion into the penalty area.
France could have won by a larger margin after Greece defender Konstantinos Mavropanos was sent off for bringing down Randal Kolo Muani, denying a clear goal-scoring chance.
France’s victory in their final match of the season follows their 3-0 victory over Gibraltar last Friday and places them atop Group B with 12 points from four matches.
They have yet to concede a goal and are six points ahead of Greece despite playing one more game.
“It has been a very long season for the players. They have been waiting for their holidays but we did what we needed to do to win the match,” coach Didier Deschamps told broadcaster TF1.
“This is a team with less experience than six months ago, but there is plenty of quality.”
Having already opened their campaign with victories against the Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland in March, the runners-up from the 2014 World Cup appear assured of qualifying for the 2015 finals in Germany.
By the time of their September match against Ireland, it will be clear where Mbappe will be playing club football next season.
The 24-year-old, who took over as captain of Les Bleus when Hugo Lloris retired from international football after the World Cup, announced last week that he would not extend his contract with PSG, which expires the following year.
This has increased the likelihood that the Qatar-backed club will sell him during this transfer window, despite his stated intention to remain with the French champions next season.
Mbappe put aside speculation about his future to convert a penalty kick against Gibraltar, and he was the game-winner despite a subpar performance by France.
In front of a sold-out Stade de France crowd, he was frustrated in the first half when Spanish referee Mateu Lahoz denied his appeals for a penalty when he was taken down by George Baldock.
Kolo Muani and Jules Kounde came close to scoring for the home team in the first half, with Kounde’s shot just before the break being saved by keeper Odysseas Vlachodimos.
When Mavropanos kicked Antoine Griezmann in the head four minutes after the resumption of play, France received the opportunity to take the lead.
The referee awarded a penalty kick and VfB Stuttgart goalkeeper Mavropanos was cautioned, while Griezmann required a bandage for his head injury.
Vlachodimos saved Mbappe’s penalty kick the first time, but when a retake was ordered, he was unable to repeat his heroics despite diving in the correct direction.
Mbappe scored 13 goals in 13 matches for France this season, in addition to 41 goals in all competitions for PSG.
He has scored 40 goals in 70 games for his country and needs one more goal to match Michel Platini’s total in a France shirt.
Greece, the 2004 European champions, had been enjoying a renaissance under their Uruguayan coach Gustavo Poyet, but when Mavropanos was sent off in the 69th minute, their hopes of salvaging a point were dashed.
By way of a pass from Kingsley Coman, Kolo Muani was sent through on goal, only to be impeded by Mavropanos. Already on a yellow card, the defender received a straight red this time.
Despite having an extra man, France were unable to extend their lead, as substitute Ousmane Dembele was unable to reach Mbappe’s low cross.
Photo by EPA/MOHAMMED BADRA
