France opens Euro 2020 qualifying with 4-1 win at Moldova

By: The Associated Press Posted: 5:32 PM CDT Friday, Mar. 22, 2019 Last Modified: 5:48 PM CDT Friday, Mar. 22, 2019

CHISINAU, Moldova - World Cup winner France started its European Championship qualifying campaign with a 4-1 victory over Moldova on Friday.

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CHISINAU, Moldova - World Cup winner France started its European Championship qualifying campaign with a 4-1 victory over Moldova on Friday.

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This article was published 22/03/2019 (2704 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CHISINAU, Moldova – World Cup winner France started its European Championship qualifying campaign with a 4-1 victory over Moldova on Friday.

Antoine Griezmann, Raphael Varane and Olivier Giroud scored inside 13 first-half minutes and Kylian Mbappe added the fourth goal late in the second half of the Group H encounter.

Vladimir Ambros netted a consolation with Moldova’s first shot on target in the 89th minute.

France's Benjamin Pavard left, fights for the ball with Moldova's Radu Ginsari right, during the Euro 2020 group H qualifying soccer match between Moldova and France at Zimbru stadium in Chisinau, Moldova, Friday, March 22, 2019. (AP Photo/ Roveliu Buga)

The only surprise was that it took France 23 minutes to make the breakthrough.

It was a goal of sublime quality as Griezmann’s short pass to Paul Pogba was, in turn, floated over the defence for the Atletico Madrid striker to run on to and connect with a left-foot volley from seven yards (meters) for his 27th goal in 68 internationals.

Griezmann was the supplier three minutes later with a corner that Varane met at the near post with a flicked header. It was again all too easy for the third as Pogba combined inside the area with Blaise Matuidi, who dinked in a cross which Giroud touched home with his left foot for his 34th international goal.

It took until the 87th minute for Mbappe to break Moldova’s second-half resistance, slotting home from 12 yards.