In a historic and one-sided European Championship qualifying match, France left fans in awe as they secured an astonishing 14-0 victory against Gibraltar. This remarkable feat, witnessed at the Allianz Riviera in Nice, will be etched in the memories of French football enthusiasts for years to come. Kylian Mbappé, the star of the night, scored a remarkable hat-trick, cementing his status as one of the world’s top talents.

France, ranked as the world’s No. 2 team, faced off against Gibraltar, a country ranked 198th globally. The disparity between the two teams was glaringly evident on the pitch, resulting in a match for the history books.

This victory not only showcased France’s dominance but also set multiple records. It marked the most significant winning margin in the history of the qualifiers, surpassing Germany’s 13-0 thumping of San Marino in 2006. Additionally, it was the first time a European team had scored 14 goals in either a World Cup or European Championship qualifying match, as reported by Reuters.

Mbappé’s contribution to this historic win cannot be understated. His long-range effort to complete his hat-trick was undoubtedly one of the standout moments of the match. What made this victory even more remarkable was the balanced distribution of goals, with seven goals scored in each half.

The match also witnessed the emergence of a young talent, Warren Zaïre-Emery, who, at the age of 17 years, eight months, and 11 days, became France’s youngest player since 1914. He made an unforgettable debut, finding the net in the first half. Unfortunately for Gibraltar, the night started on a sour note when Ethan Santos inadvertently put the ball into his own net just three minutes into the game. To compound their misery, Santos received a red card in the 18th minute for a foul on Zaïre-Emery, forcing him to exit the field prematurely.

France’s goal-scoring spree didn’t stop with Mbappé and Zaïre-Emery. Marcus Thuram, Jonathan Clauss, Youssouf Fofana, Adrien Rabiot, Ousmane Dembélé, Olivier Giroud, and Kingsley Coman all found the back of the net, contributing to the unprecedented scoreline.

France’s manager, Didier Deschamps, acknowledged the challenge faced by Gibraltar and stressed the importance of respecting the opponent, saying, “Being down to 10, already with 11 it’s complicated for them, but it doesn’t take away the credit for us even if we could have been more efficient, it’s as much about respecting the opponent as scoring goals. Fourteen is not bad.”

In terms of statistics, France had a staggering 39 attempts on goal, with 19 of them hitting the target, while Gibraltar struggled to create any meaningful chances throughout the match.

With this resounding victory, France solidified its position at the top of Group B. They had already secured qualification for Euro 2024 in Germany, making their performance in this qualifier a testament to their football prowess. On the other hand, Gibraltar, still in search of their first point and yet to score a goal during qualification, finds themselves at the bottom of the group standings.

France’s historic 14-0 victory over Gibraltar in the Euro 2024 qualifier will be remembered as one of the most dominant displays in the history of international football. This remarkable feat not only showcased France’s footballing excellence but also set new records in the world of football.