AL THUMAMA, Qatar – France advanced to the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Qatar with Olivier Giroud and Kylian Mbappe scoring the goals to defeat Poland in a 3-1 win. Robert Lewandowski’s stoppage-time penalty – taken twice because goalkeeper Hugo Lloris moved in too early to save the opening kick – was a late consolation for the Poles.
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Poland, who had earned a place in the Round of 16 ahead of Mexico on goal difference, failed to respond to the attacking talents of the world champions, despite coming close to opening the scoring in the first half. But after a slow start to the game, France finally got rid of the draw to book a quarter-final against England or Senegal.
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Quick reaction
1. Giroud does it again as France reach the quarter-finals
Olivier Giroud now stands alone as France’s all-time top scorer after putting the world champions on course to a round of 16 win over Poland. The 36-year-old AC Milan forward’s first-half goal as he latched on to Kylian Mbappe’s pass before firing a left-footed shot past the Polish keeper Wojciech Szczesny, was his 52nd for Blues and took him away from Thierry Henry as his country’s most productive goalscorer.
France have produced some incredible attacking talent over the years – Henry, Zinedine Zidane, Nicolas Anelka, Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin, to name a few. Giroud has more than all but continues to fight for the recognition his achievements deserve. But even though the former Arsenal and Chelsea striker is underestimated by many, Didier Deschamps knows exactly what he brings to the France squad, especially now that Karim Benzema’s injury has ruled him out of the tournament. . Beyond his goals, Giroud brings experience, maturity, the ability to link play and hold the ball, and a wise header for the young attackers around him.
No matter who France face in the last eight – England or Senegal – Giroud will pose as big a problem as the incredible Mbappe. Every team is scared of Mbappe’s pace and goal threat, but give Giroud a chance anywhere in the penalty area and he’ll take it. Any opponent who underestimates Giroud could see their World Cup dreams snuffed out by him.
2. France reach the last eight but injuries could prevent them from winning
Reigning champions France have progressed to the quarter-finals without coming close to top gear so far in the competition, so it’s a good sign for Deschamps and his players as it seems that there is more to come. But maybe there aren’t, and maybe all of France’s injuries to key players are starting to affect the team’s ability to reach the heights they are capable of.
Deschamps was already without long-time absentees Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante when he named his squad for Qatar, and losing these two midfielders, who were key figures at Russia 2018, was always going to be tough to overcome. . But also losing Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema and full-back Lucas Hernandez after arriving in Qatar hurt France even more. Benzema, for his part, is irreplaceable, despite Olivier Giroud’s impressive performance as a substitute. So, after losing two of the best midfielders in the world and the fittest striker of 2022, France limped into the last eight.
They’ve come this far without facing a top team, but now that they’re at the business end of the tournament, the injuries to their best players will really start to bite. It could end up being the difference between retaining the World Cup or losing to the first good team they face.
3. Poland: good striker and goalkeeper, but not much else
Poland reached the round of 16 for the first time since 1986 at this World Cup, but this meeting with France always seemed to mark the end of the road for Czeslaw Michniewicz’s side. Quite simply, Poland are nothing more than a very ordinary team that boasts a world-class striker in Robert Lewandowski and a top-notch goalkeeper in Wojciech Szczesny.
Without Barcelona’s Lewandowski and Juventus goalkeeper Szczesny, it’s hard to see Poland even qualify for the World Cup, let alone the group stage. So the problem facing the Poles now is how they adapt to a future without Lewandowski who, at 34, is highly unlikely to feature at the 2026 World Cup.
He might not even make it to Euro 2024. Poland aren’t the only ones with just one superstar. Wales are the same with Gareth Bale, and even Argentina would struggle to succeed at this World Cup without Lionel Messi. Poland is a great footballing nation with a proud history, but unless they can unearth a new Lewandowski, the future doesn’t look bright.
Player ratings
France: Hugo Lloris 7; Jules Koundé 6, Raphaël Varane 7, Dayot Upamecano 7, Théo Hernandez 6; Adrien Rabiot 6, Aurelien Tchouameni 6; Ousmane Dembélé 6, Antoine Griezmann 6, Olivier Giroud 8, Kylian Mbappé 9.
Subtitles: Youssouf Fofana 7, Kingsley Coman 6, Marcus Thuram 6, Axel Disasi 6.
Poland: Wojciech Szczesny 7; Matty Cash 7, Kamil Glik 6, Bartosz Bereszynski 6, Jakub Kiwior 6; Grzegorz Krychowiak 6, Jakub Kaminski 6, Sebastian Szymanski 6, Piotr Zielinski 6, Przemyslaw Frankowski 6; Robert Lewandowski 7.
Subtitles: Arkadiusz Milik 6, Krystian Bielik 6, Nicola Zalewski 6, Kamil Grosicki 6.
Best and Worst Performers
BEST: Kylian Mbappe
The French striker now has five goals at Qatar 2022 after netting two against Poland. He sometimes seemed to be on a different level than the rest of the players on the pitch.
WORSE: Ousmane Dembele
The French winger has so much pace and talent, but his last ball in key areas lets him down too often.
Highlights and Moments
An assist from Mbappe set up Giroud for the goal that propelled the veteran to the top of France’s all-time goalscoring list.
GIROUD 🇫🇷
Back to the goal that made him the top scorer in the history of the French men’s team pic.twitter.com/ud7UqwZKP4
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 4, 2022
Mbappe then followed up to give France a two-goal cushion and put the game out of reach for the Poles.
It was only a matter of time 🔥
Mbappé makes it 2-0 for France 🎯 pic.twitter.com/1vA2MFjR82
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 4, 2022
Kylian Mbappé has now scored 16 goals in his last 14 appearances for France. Two amazing finishes today. 5 goals already in this World Cup. 9 World Cup matches out of 11 in total. 33 goals in 63 selections and he still has only 23. Just incredible!
—Julien Laurens (@LaurensJulien) December 4, 2022
After the game: What players and managers said
Quotes to come…
Key stats (provided by ESPN Stats & Information)
– Giroud, at 36 years and 3 months, is the oldest player to score in a World Cup knockout game since Cameroon’s Roger Milla (at 38 years and 1 month) netted twice against Colombia in the round of 16 1990.
– Hugo Lloris equals Lilian Thuram for the most appearances in the French senior men’s team (142).
– Olivier Giroud overtakes Thierry Henry for the most goals in the French international senior men’s team (52).
– Kylian Mbappé (FRA): eight career World Cup goals, overtakes Pelé for the most by a male player in the competition before turning 24
– Since the 2018 World Cup, Kylian Mbappé leads all players in the number of goal commitments (10).
– This is Kylian Mbappé’s third multi-goal game in the World Cup. Those only players with more multi-goal World Cup appearances are Just Fontaine (FRA), Miroslav Klose (GER), Ronaldo (BRA) and Sandor Kocsis (HUN). Each has four.
Next
France: The French qualify for the quarter-finals and will face the winner of England against Senegal.
Poland: With the defeat, Lewandowski & Co. are ruled out of the 2022 World Cup and will look to UEFA Euro qualifiers in the spring.