France achieved their most significant victory in European Championship qualifying, overpowering Gibraltar with a remarkable 14-0 triumph on Saturday, November 18.
Captain Kylian Mbappe secured a hat-trick, while eight other Les Bleus players found the net, starting with an own goal by Ethan Santos just three minutes into the decidedly one-sided match.
Santos saw a red card after 18 minutes, diminishing the minnows to 10 men, and they struggled to halt the relentless onslaught in Nice.
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The win continues France’s perfect Euro 2024 qualifying record, sitting top of Group B ahead of their final game at Greece on Tuesday, having already booked their place at next summer’s tournament.
Gibraltar remains without a point and has a goal difference of -35 from their seven games.
Santos’ own goal immediately put the visitors at a disadvantage, followed by Inter Milan forward Marcus Thuram doubling the deficit.
Teenage debutant Warren Zaire-Emery swiftly made his mark on the scoresheet, while Kylian Mbappe extended the advantage from the penalty spot in the 30th minute.
Marseille full-back Jonathan Clauss, Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman, and Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana contributed to France’s astonishing 7-0 lead going into the halftime break.
After the interval, Juventus maestro Adrien Rabiot and Coman’s second goal further widened the gap, with Ousmane Dembele also finding the back of the net.
Mbappe secured his second and third goals of the night, including a remarkable 40-yard effort, and AC Milan striker Olivier Giroud concluded the scoring with a late brace.
In total, Les Bleus registered 39 shots on goal on a memorable evening, breaking the record for the largest victory in a men’s European Championship qualifier, with Germany’s 13-0 triumph over Malta previously holding the benchmark.
The rout also eclipses France’s earlier 10-0 success against Azerbaijan in 1995.