Kazakhstan succumb to France onslaught

France confirmed their place at the top of UEFA European Under-21 Championship Group 10 as Layvin Kurzawa and Yaya Sanogo struck two each in Kazakhstan.

Ilya Kalinin passed up an early chance for Kazakhstan, and Toktar Zhangylyshbay missed his cue with only the goalkeeper to beat not long afterwards, but France took command after a swift counterattack set up Morgan Sanson to score their 17th-minute opener. AS Monaco FC left-back Kurzawa then fired France's second from distance only for Kazakhstan to respond, Roman Murtazayev finishing on the break following Kalinin's splendid cross-field ball.

Kurzawa profited following Florian Thauvin's corner to make it 3-1 by the interval, and the Olympique de Marseille man produced a more impressive assist on 50 minutes to pick out Sanogo for his first of the day. Arsenal FC striker Sanogo then took on the Kazakhstan defence – and goalkeeper Stas Pokatilov – before making it 5-1 just three minutes later.

The result means France will finish top of their section, though results yesterday had ensured that they would feature in the play-off draw on Friday 12 September at 14.00CET regardless of their final Group 10 results.