Euro 2024 qualifiers: France put cricket score past Gibraltar, Republic of Ireland fall in Amsterdam

Les Bleus had already qualified as winners of Group B and showed no signs of letting up against Gibraltar, who suffered a nightmare start when defender Ethan Santos scored an early own goal before then being sent off in the 18th minute for a late tackle on teenage France debutant Warren Zaire-Emery.

France were relentless as they scored seven goals in each half, with captain Kylian Mbappe leading the way with a hat-trick, Kingsley Coman netting twice and substitute Olivier Giroud hitting a late brace.

Zaire-Emery had become France’s youngest post-war debutant, aged 17 and 255 days, and he got on the scoresheet in the 16th minute to make it 3-0.

Santos was then shown a red card following a VAR review for his over-the-top tackle on Zaire-Emery’s ankle as he tucked the ball in at the near post, with the Paris St Germain midfielder soon substituted.

AC Milan striker Giroud came off the bench to see one effort ruled out for offside by VAR before then scoring two late goals as France set a new national record and also eclipsed Germany’s 13-0 qualifying win over San Marino in September 2006.

The Netherlands secured their place at Euro 2024 as runners-up in the group with a 1-0 win over the Republic of Ireland in Amsterdam.

Wout Weghorst scored the only goal of the game after 11 minutes under the closed roof at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

It was enough to secure Ronald Koeman’s side second place due to their superior head-to-head record against Greece.

In Group I, Romania booked their spot in the finals next summer with a 2-1 win over Israel in Felcsut, Hungary.

Eran Zahavi’s header gave Israel an early lead, but George Puscas soon equalised and a second-half goal from Ianis Hagi was enough to send Romania top.

Switzerland also qualified despite being held to a 1-1 draw by Kosovo in Basel.

Ruben Vargas put the Swiss ahead early in the second half at St Jakob-Park, but Kosovo substitute Muhamet Hyseni struck a late equaliser.

Israel will go into the play-offs via their Nations League ranking, while elsewhere in the group, Belarus beat Andorra 1-0 in Budapest with a late goal from Denis Laptev.

Croatia put qualification from Group D in their own hands with a 2-0 away win over Latvia after rivals Wales were held to a 1-1 draw by Armenia.

Early goals from Lovro Majer and Andrej Kramaric proved enough for all three points in Riga.

Wales saw their hopes of automatic qualification dented in Yerevan.

Lucas Zelarayan gave Armenia an early lead before Wales got back on level terms in first-half stoppage time through an own goal from Nair Tiknizyan.

Rob Page’s men must now hope Croatia drop points in their final fixture at home to Armenia and they can beat already-qualified group leaders Turkey in Cardiff on Tuesday night to edge into second spot.