France skipper Kylian Mbappé bagged a brace on Thursday night as he led a second-half goal spree to propel his side past Ukraine 4-0 and into next year's World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
A minute's silence was held at the Parc des Princes before kick-off, in tribute to the victims of the terror attacks around Paris and at the Stade de France – during a friendly between France and Germany – on 13 November, 2015.
This was followed by applause from the 41,000 fans in the stands.
On the pitch, France enjoyed the lion's share of the ball but laboured to penetrate a doughty Ukrainian rearguard.
And Ukraine's rugged tactics appeared to be on the verge of bearing fruit just after the pause when referee Slavko Vincic reviewed the pitchside monitor to check a possible penalty for the visitors.
A deluge of goals from France followed their disappointment.
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Taras Mykhavko hacked clumsily at France winger Michael Olise to concede a penalty afer 55 minutes.
Mbappé rammed the ball confidently into the centre of goal as the Ukraine goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin dived to his left.
Trubin saved Mbappé's snap shot minutes later and should have been given no chance when substitute Maghnes Akliouche was sent through.
Fellow substitute Hugo Ekitiké prodded the ball on to the post as France ramped up the pressure.
Fourteen minutes from time, veteran midfielder N'Golo Kanté slid the ball through the line of Ukraine defenders and Michael Olise swept home to double the score.
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With relief palpable around the ground and Ukraine lacking ideas, France maintained possession. Mbappé tapped in his second and France's third before the goal of the night.
Ekitiké picked up the ball just before the half-way line and surged towards the goal. The Liverpool striker elegantly dispatched the ball into the goal past an increasingly bedazzled Trubin.
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The French players and coaching staff celebrated behind a hoarding bearing the legend: "Qualified" as supporters roared their delight at having progressed to next year's tournament – with a game to spare.
"Given the context tonight, we are pleased to have put some smiles on faces by securing qualification," said France coach Didier Deschamps, who led the team 10 years ago when suicide bombers tried to enter the Stade de France.
"We have fulfilled our objective," added the 57-year-old, who has announced he will step down after next year's tournament.
"I understand that it is seen as normal that France qualify but we still had to go out and do it, so we are very proud."
