2022 World Cup qualifiers: France end winless run as Depay and Haaland grab hat-tricks

Title-holders France seal 2-0 win over Finland thanks to Griezmann double

France's Antoine Griezmann celebrates scoring their first goal against Finland in Uefa World Cup qualifying Group D at the Groupama Stadium, Lyon. AFP

France's Antoine Griezmann celebrates scoring his 41st international goal. Reuters

France midfielder Paul Pogba. Reuters

France forwards Antoine Griezmann and Karim Benzema wait to take a free-kick against Finland. AFP

France forward Antoine Griezmann is congratulated by Anthony Martial after scoring his team's second goal against Finland. AFP

Netherlands forward Donyell Malen, left, celebrates with Memphis Depay after scoring a goal during the World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifying Group G match against Turkey at the Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam. AFP

Memphis Depay of the Netherlands, left, celebrates scoring his side's fourth goal during the World Cup 2022 group G qualifying soccer match between the Netherlands and Turkey at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021. (AP Photo / Peter Dejong)

Netherlands forward Memphis Depay fights for the ball with Turkey defender Merih Demiral. AFP

Netherlands' Memphis Depay in action with Turkey's Caglar Soyuncu. Reuters

Netherlands' Memphis Depay celebrates scoring their second goal with Virgil van Dijk. Reuters

Norway's Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring his side's fifth goal during the World Cup 2022 Group G qualifying match against Gibraltar at Ullevaal Stadium. AP

Norway forward Erling Haaland and Gibraltar midfielder Graeme Torrilla vie for the ball. AFP

Erling Braut Haaland of Norway reacts after scoring against Gibraltar at Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo, Norway. EPA

Portugal's Bernardo Silva, right, in action during the World Cup 2022 Group A qualifying match against Azerbaijan at the Olympic Stadium in Baku. AP

Portugal's Bernardo Silva in action. Reuters

Azerbaijan defender Abbas Huseynov and Portugal's Diogo Jota vie for the ball.

Portugal's Diogo Jota, second right, scores. AP

Portugal players celebrate after Diogo Jota scored his side's third goal. AP

Jack Hendry of Scotland applauds the fans following their side's victory after the World Cup qualifier match against Austria at Ernst Happel Stadion in Vienna. Getty Images

Billy Gilmour of Scotland battles for possession with Martin Hinteregger of Austria. Getty Images

Che Adams of Scotland shoots whilst under pressure from Aleksandar Dragovic of Austria. Getty Images

Reigning champions France beat Finland 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday thanks to Antoine Griezmann's double strike to snap a five-game winless streak while Scotland kept their hopes alive with a 1-0 win in Austria.

In other action, Portugal and the Netherlands stayed on track to reach the finals in Qatar next year, with Memphis Depay grabbing a hat-trick for the Dutch in a 6-1 demolition of Turkey.

France were roared on by 57,000 passionate spectators in Lyon where Griezmann - who ended an unhappy spell at Barcelona with a loan move back to Atletico Madrid in the transfer window - combined well with Karim Benzema as their side overcame a disjointed start.

Benzema's delightful backheel released Griezmann inside the box and he supplied a smooth finish after 25 minutes.

Griezmann made it 41 goals for his country when he beat Finnish 'keeper Lukas Hradecky at the near post to make it 2-0 in the 54th minute.

After a frustrating 1-1 draw with Ukraine in their last game, the victory was a welcome boost for the French who are still smarting after crashing out of Euro 2020 at the last-16 stage this summer.

"We did not do everything well but we have rediscovered our confidence," said France coach Didier Deschamps.

"This puts our fate in our hands and we must finish the job in November."

Scotland grabbed a valuable three points in their bid to qualify for Qatar with a 1-0 win against the Austrians in Vienna as Australian-born Lyndon Dykes' VAR-awarded penalty proved the difference.

The victory moved the Scots up to second in Group F, seven points behind Euro 2020 semi-finalists Denmark who are cruising with a 100 per cent record after thrashing Israel 5-0.

"Some people in [Scotland] don't believe in this group of players, but I do," Scotland manager Steve Clarke told Sky Sports. "I love my players. We're a good team."

The Netherlands were ruthless against Turkey as Depay's hat-trick took the Barcelona forward's international goal tally to 33 goals.

The Dutch led 3-0 by half-time and any remaining chance for the Turks vanished when Leicester City defender Caglar Soyuncu was sent off for a second bookable offence shortly before the break.

Louis van Gaal's side moved into top spot in Group G by virtue of goal difference above Norway who outclassed minnows Gibraltar 5-1, with Erling Braut Haaland notching a hat-trick.

Serbia's bid to qualify for a second successive World Cup finals suffered a setback as Nikola Milenkovic's late own goal and a superb display from teenage goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu gave the Republic of Ireland a battling 1-1 draw in Dublin.

Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic had put Serbia ahead in the first half.

The Serbs trail Portugal - who were 3-0 winners in Azerbaijan - by two points in Group A.

The Portuguese did not miss the suspended Cristiano Ronaldo as Bernardo Silva scored a sparkling opener on 26 minutes before Andre Silva added a second five minutes later in Baku.

Liverpool forward Diogo Jota completed the job with a second-half header to continue his bright early season form.