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FANTASTIC FOUR After a surprising and uncharacteristic six-match stretch for Kylian Mbappé to open the Group D 2022 World Cup qualifying matches for France, in which he went scoreless, he unleashed a barrage of brilliance against Kazakhstan that had been simmering during the drought. The striker produced a first-half hat trick, striking for his team’s first three goals before 35 minutes had elapsed, and then added another in the closing minutes of the match as France rolled to an 8–0 victory in front of a joyous home crowd in Paris. The win clinched the top spot in their group and nailed down a coveted berth in Qatar for the World Cup. The four-goal outburst was the first by a French player since Just Fontaine had done so in 1958, and Mbappé’s hat trick was significant as well, as French fans hadn’t witnessed one of those by one of their players in a meaningful match since Dominique Rocheteau tallied three times in 1985.

Kylian Mbappé scored four goals for France in its 8–0 win against Kazakhstan to secure a berth in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

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Greatest Moments