LONDON - Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick as England demolished North Macedonia 7-0 in Euro 2024 qualifying on Monday, while Kylian Mbappe's re-taken penalty gave France a narrow victory over Greece.
Harry Kane swept England ahead at Old Trafford before Saka stole the show with two superb finishes either side of Marcus Rashford's goal.
Saka completed his treble early in the second half, Kalvin Phillips added another and Kane then struck again from the spot as England won their fourth straight match in Group C.
"It's a feeling I can't put into words. I can't describe how I'm feeling right now. I'm so happy," Saka told Channel 4.
"It's been a really long season. It's the end of the season now. I couldn't have ended it in a better way."
England top the section on a maximum 12 points, six ahead of Ukraine, who are second after a 1-0 win over Malta in Trnava was secured by Viktor Tsygankov's second-half penalty.
European champions Italy are nine points adrift in third but have played just twice.
France also kept up their 100 percent record in Group B with a 1-0 win over Greece in Paris, which propelled the World Cup runners-up six points clear of their opponents.
Mbappe saw his initial spot-kick saved by Odysseas Vlachodimos, but the France striker made no mistake with his second attempt after encroachment by a Greek defender.
Greece finished with 10 men as Kostantinos Mavropanos was sent off, having escaped red earlier when he caught Antoine Griezmann in the face with his studs and gave away the penalty.
"We did what we needed to win this match. I'm very pleased with what the players have done in this difficult period," France coach Didier Deschamps told TF1.
"There's less experience than there was six months ago, but there's quality."