KOUNDÉ BOOKS HIS TICKET FOR THE WORLD CUP IN STYLE BY HAMMERING KAZAKHSTAN 8-0

Ahead of the game, three points were all that was required against the bottom place team in the group and France did not slip up. Didier Deschamps' squad will defend their title next year in Qatar thanks to a hammering at the Par des Princes against Kazakhstan, who proved no match for 'The Blues'. In fact,  with Koundé once again in the starting eleven, the game was decided within half an hour, with a spectacular hat-trick from Mbappé seeing them race into a 3-0 lead on the scoreboard. 

Before an hour had been played Benzema scored twice as the lead grew. Diaby saw a sixth ruled out but Rabiot made up for the VAR decision, scoring just two minutes later. Griezmann from the penalty spot and one more from Mbappé made it 8-0. Once again Koundé reinforced his position as a starter for Deschamps, forming part of a skilled back three alongside Upamecano and Lucas Hernández, although the latter was replaced late on by Clement Lenglet. 

France with finish off their group with qualification already secured on Tuesday at 20:45 in Helsinki against Finland. The Scandinavians are playing for a playoff spot. They need to maintain their current one-point advantage over Ukraine who play a Bosnia side with nothing to play for.