Kylian Mbappe’s stunning solo goal helped France ease to a comfortable 3-0 victory and take another giant step towards qualifying for next years’ World Cup with victory over Azerbaijan in Paris. Adrien Rabiot and Florian Thavin were also on target, but there were worrying scenes towards the end as talisman Mbappe signalled to come off with what looked like an ankle injury.

France were far from their best against lowly opposition and came into the match with a mountain of injuries, but boss Deschamps made six changes to the starting XI that faced Iceland, including Liverpool star Hugo Ekitike, who made his first international start. Mbappe, who is in scintillating form for club and country, should have opened the scoring with just 17 seconds on the clock, but fired over from the edge of the box and there were two further chances squandered in the opening minutes by Malo Gust and Dayot Upamecano. The visitors rode their luck in the opening stages and just as France began to look frustrated the deadlock was finally broken in time added on at the end of the first half, courtesy of a thrilling goal from Mbappe. The Real Madrid striker slalomed through the visitors’ defence and Ekitike got a touch before the ball was thrashed home into the corner of the goal. And it was Mbappe who set-up the second, his cross was met by Adrien Rabiot who nodded home from seven yards out. Thauvin added to the scoring, just seconds after coming on as France maintained their 100 per cent record in World Cup qualifying.

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