France is into the FIFA 2022 World Cup quarterfinals after a 3-1 win over Poland at Al Thumama Stadium on Sunday. Olivier Giroud opened the scoring on the stroke of half time in Doha before Kylian Mbappe added a second half double to send Didier Deschamps' men through.
Robert Lewandowski did ensure that the French have conceded in each game so far in Qatar with a late penalty at the second attempt. However, it was not enough to dampen the growing optimism surrounding this France side which is really starting to motor.
Giroud's goal makes him Les Bleus' all-time top scorer with 52 while Mbappe is now on the verge of double figured World Cup goals after his latest brace. The wait to discover their quarterfinal fate will not be long either with England vs. Senegal kicking off at 2 p.m. ET.
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"It was not easy as this Polish side was very well set up," Deschamps said moments after the final whistle. "We always have this ability to find a way, though. With Kylian, he has the ability to solve many issues which is great for us. We have been united since the start and obviously reaching the quarterfinals is very good. Our joy is shared. We have a bit more time now so will spend some time with our loved ones and families -- as was planned."
The first half at Al Thumama Stadium was tight with a superb Hugo Lloris save needed to deny Piotr Zielinski and some last ditch defending to keep Poland at bay. Giroud then spurned a great chance to score his 52nd goal for his country before he actually did as Ousmane Dembele's ball across the face of goal was just too fast for a sliding Giroud to turn in.
The AC Milan man did finally score when Mbappe assisted for him to clip home for the goal which moved him clear of Thierry Henry at the top of the charts. Lloris nearly undid that lead when he dropped the ball moments later, but smothered it before Jakub Kaminski could react.
The Poles' first half showing was as good as it would get for them as France really seized control in the second 45. Wojciech Szczesny was lucky to have been adjudged the victim of a Raphael Varane foul when it perhaps should have been a French penalty or Giroud's acrobatic disallowed effort allowed to stand.
Jakub Kiwior was then fortunate to not have a penalty blown against him when he fouled Mbappe in the area and no penalty was given. However, Poland's luck was over minutes later as the Paris Saint-Germain man struck for the killer second goal.
Dembele teed up Mbappe to slam home high into the net past Szczesny and the Eagles' resistance was done A dominant French side added a late flourish through the 23-year-old when he curled in a second in the first minute of added time to confirm their quarterfinal berth.
There was still time for the Polish to salvage a consolation goal through Lewandowski after Dayot Upamecano was adjudged to have handled the ball via VAR. Lloris initially saved from the Barcelona man, but the spot kick was ordered to be retaken and was converted at the second attempt.
France march on while Poland bow out after giving a good account of themselves after a rathe fortuitous qualification from Group C. Deschamps' side are not yet perfect, but they are growing into this tournament as they did in 2018 which is an ominous sign for their competition.
Giroud's record 52nd goal makes him Les Bleus' all-time top scorer while Mbappe adds two more goals to his growing list of major World Cup contributions. Lewandowski with the solitary Polish goal, but the Eagles were second best at Al Thumama Stadium for pretty much the entire second half. Deschamps' champions march on to the quarterfinals where they will meet England or Senegal.
VAR says Upamecano handball. Lloris saves from Lewandowski, but it will be retaken! Can the Barcelona man get it at the second attempt? He does! CBS Sports' Jonathan Johnson with another perfect score prediction.
Mbappe again! Szczesny unable to keep the French hotshot out as he curls in his second of the game. What a player! We are witnessing history on the making. Lloris does well to keep Milik out at the death as Poland push for a consolation strike.
Mbappe! Dembele with the assist and the PSG man slams home high into the net. Les Bleus' star man doubles the lead and makes the French dominance pay at last. The French are marching into the quarterfinals!
Poland can consider themselves lucky that Szczesny and Kiwior have not been punished this half. The first fortunate not to concede a penalty or see Giroud's goal ruled in and the second could have easily been penalised on Mbappe inside the box just then. Little doubt that the world champions are in control, they just need to make their dominance pay.
Coming up on the hour mark and the French are starting to dominate this. Mbappe just had a shot deflected behind. Polish back line looking wobbly to say the least. Les Bleus need to capitalize on this. Giroud puts an acrobatic effort in, but Szczesny is down after injuring himself while punching out on top of both Cash and Varane. Are France right to feel that it was harsh to rule that one out? To call that a foul by Varane is questionable to say the least.
Strap in for the second 45 as things are back in action in Doha. Griezmann has a free kick delivery punched clear by Szczesny. Bereszynski joins Tchouameni in the book and Dembele almost get unleashed against the Poles inside the first few minutes of this second half. Zielinski dispossessed on the edge of the French box after that.
Giroud's goal is the difference in Doha. The AC Milan man with his 52nd international goal to become the French all-time top scorer. Mbappe teed him up, but it was just minutes after Lloris kept the score 0-0 with a great save. Engrossing stuff at Al Thumama Stadium and it is far from over based on the opening 45.
Giroud opens the scoring for France! Mbappe feeds his strike partner and the 36-year-old AC Milan man clips home. Giroud is now Les Bleus' all-time leading scorer with 52 goals! Kaminski tries to immediately hit back, but he is snuffed out by the French defense. Lloris spills the ball moments later, but quickly smothers it as disaster is averted.
After Lewandowski hit the wall with his free kick and Cash dragged wide with an optimistic effort from range, Mbappe wins a corner after jinking inside the Polish defense and forcing a save from Szczesny. Lloris then delivers an enormous save from Zielinksi at the other end as France scramble to keep Poland out. All hands to the pump!
What a chance for Les Bleus! Dembele squares the ball across the box at pace which takes Szczesny and the Polish defense out. A sliding Giroud unable to get enough on it to direct it goalwards, though. France arguably should lead after that. Tchouameni booked and Poland now have a promising free kick which Lewandowski walls.
Poland's talisman had a go after catching sight of the French goal, but sends his shot wide of Lloris' goal. Kounde then fires into Szczesny's arms from distance moments later. Poland waste a floated free kick into the French box before Mbappe threatens to switch on the afterburners as he attempted to get in behind the Polish defense.
It has been mostly French for the opening 10 minutes or so with a few corners won by Les Bleus and some defensive action required by the Poland rearguard. The Eagles did get the ball in and around Lloris' box, but the danger was cut out. Szczesny denied a Tchouameni effort from distance a moment ago and it remains goalless. Dembele then wasted an effort from the edge of the box minutes later.
The game has kicked off and we are live in our third Round of 16 clash at this World Cup. France are aiming to join the Netherlands and Argentina in the quarterfinals. Early Griezmann free kick floated into the box and out of play. The Atletico Madrid man will be keen to score a goal that does not fall foul of VAR today. Another Griezmann ball in from a corner a few minutes later is met by Varane, but was not on target.
After plenty of shocks this World Cup, Saturday's games went as many would have expected with the Netherlands and Argentina advancing at the expense of the USMNT and Australia. Both the U.S. and the Socceroos tried to rally, but Oranje and La Albiceleste ultimately had too much. France and England are largely expected to advance today, so will that logic be respected?
This is how these two sides managed to make it out of their respective groups in Qatar...
France's route to the Round of 16: Deschamps' men won their Group D opener 4-1 vs. Australia before Mbappe's double in a 2-1 win over Denmark confirmed their successful qualification for the knockout phase. Despite a 1-0 loss to Tunisia, the French topped Group D to set up this clash.
Poland's route to the Round of 16: Lewandowski and his teammates drew 0-0 with Mexico before a 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia which the skipper scored in. Despite a 2-0 loss to Argentina, Michniewicz's side scraped through behind La Albiceleste on goal difference to pair with France.
France have met Poland at a World Cup before with the Poles winning a third-place playoff clash 3-2 back in 1982. The French are unbeaten against the Polish in their last seven meetings and their last loss to Poland was a 1982 friendly. France are appearing in the Round of 16 for the sixth time and Les Bleus have advanced to the quarterfinals each time in 1986, 1998, 2006, 2014, and 2018. This is Poland's first World Cup knockout match since 1986 when they lost 4-0 to Brazil in the Round of 16. Also, Lloris is now just one more appearance away from leading France's all-time appearances record -- today moves him level with Thuram. One more outing in Qatar and he also surpasses Henry and Barthez for World Cup appearances.
Czeslaw Michniewicz makes two changes from the Eagles side he sent out against Argentina with Jakub Kaminski and Damian Szymanski starting ahead of Krystian Bielik and Karol Swiderski. Wojciech Szczesny has been key for the Poles so far with a 90% save percentage as well as two penalties saved from his past two appearances in Qatar.
Poland: Szczesny; Cash, Glik, Kiwior, Bereszynski; Frankowski, Krychowiak, Szymanski, Zielinski; Lewandowski (c), Kaminski.
Didier Deschamps brings back his strongest XI, as expected, with captain Hugo Lloris making his 142nd appearance for Les Bleus today which equals Lilian Thuram's all-time record. Jules Kounde as right back is something that has not really worked for the French so far and perhaps Poland will look to exploit that. One more goal for Olivier Giroud and he moves clear as France's all-time top scorer with 52 goals.
France: Lloris (c); Kounde, Varane, Upamecano, Theo Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe; Giroud.
I am Jonathan Johnson and thank you for joining our build-up and coverage of France vs. Poland from Al Thumama Stadium in Doha this Sunday. It is the first game on a tasty double slate with England vs. Senegal coming up later on from Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor with James Benge at 2:00 p.m. ET. I will keep you posted with all of the French and Polish team news leading up to kick-off as the current titleholders aim to take another step towards the potential defense of their crown.
