AMSTERDAM — A searing first-half strike from Paul Pogba handed France a 1-0 win at rival the Netherlands as Belgium and Portugal clocked up 6-0 victories and Christian Benteke grabbed a slice of World Cup qualifying history.
Criticized by coach Didier Deschamps for his performance in Friday’s 4-1 win over Bulgaria in Paris, the world’s most expensive footballer emphatically replied with a towering display for Les Bleus in Amsterdam in the most eye-catching fixture Monday.
The Manchester United midfielder’s powerful hit from 25 meters out after half an hour left diving Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg able to get his hands to the fizzing ball but unable to stop it.
“I didn’t speak to him (Pogba), I just said a few words to him before entering the changing rooms, ‘I have confidence in you,’” said Deschamps.
France, losing finalist on home soil at Euro 2016, is equal on seven points at the top of Group A with Sweden, which beat Bulgaria 3-0 at home in Solna. The two countries will play on Nov. 11 at the Stade de France.
Pogba, 23, was imperial in front of a central defense made up of Raphael Varane and Laurent Koscielny, who pushed back wave after wave of Dutch attacks.
The Dutch failed to make it to the Euros and now sit third in the group, needing to improve fast if they are to make it to Russia in 2018.
Belgium and Portugal went on goal sprees against minnows Gibraltar and the Faroe Islands.
Belgium striker Benteke set a new World Cup record for the fastest goal ever — just seven seconds — on his way to a hat trick in Faro.
Belgium tops Group H on nine points out of nine, ahead of Greece on goal difference.
The 25-year-old Crystal Palace forward picked up the ball in the first action in Faro and racing toward goal with the Gibraltar defense in disarray left goalie Deren Ibrahim with no chance.
Benteke’s quick-fire goal eclipsed the previous best of 8.3 seconds achieved by San Marino’s Davide Gualtieri in a World Cup qualifier against England in November 1993.
Portugal, bidding to catch Group B leader Switzerland, matched its 6-0 win over Andorra Friday.
Andre Silva scored a hat trick for the European champion before captain Cristiano Ronaldo netted his fifth goal in four days, with Joao Cancelo and Joao Moutinho also scoring late on.
Switzerland maintained its unbeaten run, coming away 2-1 winner from Andorra with Fabian Schaer and Admir Mehmedi scoring in either half.
