Reigning FIFA World Cup champions France are the third team through to the quarter-finals in Qatar after a deserved 3-1 victory over Poland in the Round of 16.
Les Bleus were good value for their win after raising their level in the second half, but it was the kind of performance that is unlikely to be enough against tougher opposition as the business end of the tournament quickly approaches.
Robert Lewandowski’s Poland side were gallant in defeat, and head home after managing a 2-0 win against Saudi Arabia and a scoreless draw with Mexico in the group stage. It may be the end for Lewandowski at the World Cup: he will be 38 by the time the tournament heads to North America in 2026.
It was a cagey opening 10 minutes as both sides eased their way in. Poland manager Czesław Michniewicz’s 4-1-4-1 set-up was described as “defensive” and designed to “not lose rather than win” on the SBS coverage.
In contrast, Didier Deschamp’s 4-2-3-1, while not an all-out attacking formation, seemed more positive.
Usual suspects Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele were sleuthing around, looking for early ball between the lines.
(Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)
Poland, meanwhile, managed to repel everything thrown at them with relative ease with France’s best opportunity coming via a Raphael Varane header from a corner.
There were some ominous signs, however, as the reigning champions looked to flex their attacking muscle.
After 20 minutes, Poland finally had a sight of Hugo Lloris’s goal as Barcelona striker Lewandowski fired wide from outside the area.
Koundé then returned the favour for Les Bleus with a strike from distance but could only direct his effort straight at Wojciech Szczęsny.
Mbappe’s searing pace was causing problems down Poland’s right side, the PSG man finding himself double-teamed regularly.
Then, after a mistake from Poland, it was Olivier Giroud with a golden chance but the veteran could only direct his effort wide as he slid in to meet Dembele’s cross.
22-year-old Aurélien Tchouaméni picked up the game’s first yellow card after a forceful challenge, providing Lewandowski with a dead-ball opportunity that was duly sent straight into the French wall, while English-born Matty Cash produced a wild effort from distance when a loose ball rolled into the Aston Villa fullback’s path.
In a pinball-like sequence, Lloris somehow kept out two Piotr Zieliński efforts before a third shot was cleared away to safety.
“Zielinski’s got to bury it,” Thomas Sorensen said on the SBS coverage. “If it had fallen to Lewandowski, he would’ve scored. In these tight games you’ve got to take those chances. It hasn’t been their strong point in this tournament.”
Just a few minutes later the reigning champions went up the other end and made Poland pay.
Giroud, who had been quiet up to that point, made himself a few yards of space and was expertly played in by Mbappe before dispatching his strike past Szczesny.
With his 52nd international goal, in his final World Cup, 36-year-old Giroud surpassed legend Thiery Henry’s record of 51, becoming France’s all-time leading goalscorer.
On the balance of play, it was probably a deserved advantage for Les Bleus but Poland would be rueing their own missed triple-chance as the two sides headed to the dressing rooms.
“It’s just been passive,” Sorensen said at half-time. “Poland have actually had the better chances. You feel that France will need to step it up.”
Perhaps surprisingly, neither manager went to his bench as the teams returned to the field. Mbappe’s deflected shot in the 56th minute fizzed past the post for a corner as France looked to bolster their advantage.
Giroud then had the ball in the net again, this time from a spectacular overhead kick, but play had already been stopped a few seconds prior and it would not count.
Arkadiusz Milik was brought on for Sebastian Szymańsk as Michniewicz’s side chased the equaliser, but as Poland committed bodies forward, they were left badly exposed defensively and Mbappe took full advantage, beating Szczesny at his near post and doubling France’s lead.
It was Mbappe’s fourth goal of the 2022 World Cup, putting him in the outright lead for Golden Boot.
The 23-year-old star then completed his brace and put the result beyond doubt, this time firing an absolute rocket across Szczesny into the top bins.
Even some of Mbappe’s teammates could hardly believe it.
Lloris stopped Lewandowski from the spot after Poland earned a penalty deep into stoppage time but it was to be retaken when France encroached into the area. He made no mistake with his second chance – and that was the last kick of the game.
Despite an unconvincing first half, ultimately the reigning champions had way too much quality as Mbappe once again showed his big-game credentials.
“We’re running out of superlatives (to describe Mbappe),” Sorensen said post-game. “This kid is brilliant. He’s got so many goals. He’s got so many years left to keep entertaining us.”
Craig Foster was less than complimentary about the French performance but praised Mbappe’s brilliance.
“It was a slack performance,” Foster said. “Griezmann was very poor. They made quite difficult work of it, particularly in the first half.
“(Mbappe) is going to be up there for the Ballon d’Or for years to come, unless Erling Haaland takes some off him, and I’m not so sure about that.”
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