There were no surprises in Europe in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers as all the major teams posted big wins. Cristiano Ronaldo shrugged off a rusty start to the new season for Real Madrid with a spectacular goal-rush, slamming four goals to take European champions Portugal to a 6-0 win against Andorra.
The Euro 2016 finalists, France also did not slip up as they made easy work of Bulgaria in Paris but it was the visitors who scored first. Didier Deschamps' side regrouped to slam four in the space of 15 minutes to romp to victory.
Netherlands are quietly getting back to winning ways as their young team beat Belarus 4-1, thanks to Quincy Promes scoring his first two goals in national colours.
Ronaldo scales new peak
Cristiano Ronaldo was in sublime form as the hapless Andorran defence could only watch the Portuguese skipper blitz his way to a four-goal haul in Aviero. It took the 31-year-old only four minutes to score the 62nd and 63rd goals of his career; both were set up by winger Ricardo Quaresma.
Joao Cancelo scored from a tight angle to make it three and Ronaldo completed his hat-trick, two minutes into the second half with a a right-foot finish off a Andre Gomes cross. Things went from bad to worse for Andorra as defender Jose Rubio was sent off just over the hour mark. Ronaldo got his fourth through a corner and minutes later, Andorra were down to nine men as Marc Rebes also got his marching orders. Andre Silva got the sixth goal of the evening.
Gamiero brace takes France to victory
After being held 1-1 in Belarus, it was imperative that France got a win to get their campaign up and running but it got off to the worst possible start as Bulgaria were handed a penalty with only six minutes on the clock. Mihail Aleksandrov made no mistake to put his side in the lead from the spot.
France hit back with a goal rush. Bacary Sagna, who gave away the penalty, made amends with a Beckham-esque cross, which Kevin Gamiero nodded into the net to level scores. The Bulgarian defence and goalkeeper were caught in two minds from Dimitri Payet's shot cum cross, which found its way in.
A misplaced pass from Dimitar Pirgov put Antoine Griezmann through on goal, and the Atletico Madrid star made no mistake. France's young left-back, Lavyin Kurzawa and Griezmann teamed up to set up Gamiero, who made no mistake to get his second and France's fourth. Sagna's evening ended early though, with him limping off due to injury.
Promes shows promise
Netherlands prepared for their clash against France on Monday with a no-nonsense win against Belarus in Rotterdam. Quincy Promes struck two well-taken goals inside the first half to give his side a 2-0 lead at half-time.
Aleksey Rios pulled one back for Belarus just two minutes after the break but all hopes of a comeback were put to rest with Davy Klassen and Vincent Janssen scoring two goals in the space of 10 minutes. Liverpool's Georginho Wijnaldum came close to making it five as he struck the post late in the game.
Belgium make it two wins from two in Group H
All of Belgium's high-profile names were on target as they made easy work of Bosnia and Herzegovnia in Brussels. The Red Devils went ahead through an Emir Spahic own goal and didn't look back. Dries Mertens set up Eden Hazard with a pinpoint cross and the Chelsea winger made no mistake.
Tottenham Hotspur defender Toby Alderweireld made it four goals at the hour mark with a strong header from a Mertens cross. Romelu Lukaku arguably got the best goal of the night with a thunderous shot from outside the box to make it four for Roberto Martinez's side.
Brief Scores
- Portugal 6 (Cristiano Ronaldo x 4, Joao Cancelo, Andre Silva) beat Andorra 0
- France 4 (Kevin Gamiero x 2 , Dimitri Payet, Antoine Griezmann) beat Bulgaria 1 (Mihail Aleksandrov)
- Netherlands 4 (Quincy Promes x 2, Davy Klassen, Vincent Janssen) beat Belarus 1 (Aleksey Rios)
- Belgium 4 (Emir Spahic (o.g), Eden Hazard, Toby Alderwiereld, Romelu Lukaku) beat Bosnia and Herzegovnia 0