Defending champions France are through into the quarterfinals of the ongoing 2022 FIFA World Cup after a 3-1 thriller against an outmaneuvered Poland in their Round of 16 clash this Sunday at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha.
After the first half was nearing its end, with one staggering miss from Olivier Giroud and a brilliant save from Hugo Lloris against Piotr Zieliński’s strike, the Frenchman finally had their breakthrough at the 43rd minute mark.
Kylian Mbappe broke the Polish backline with a surgically precise through that reached Giroud, and the veteran forward made no mistake this time in slotting the ball to the left of Wojciech Szczesny.
‘Les Bleus’ doubled their lead in the 74th minute, as it was Giroud this time who provided the assist to Mbappe, as the stalwart rocketed the ball into the top of the Poland net.
Mbappe secured his brace- his 8th goal in the WC finals and fourth in the 2022 edition, in the final minutes. After racing in from the left flank, the PSG forward struck with his right high toward the goal, touching Szczesny’s fingertips before going into the nets.
The Poles had their consolation goal towards the end of injury time, as a VAR check showed Upamecano’s handball. The skipper Robert Lewandowski had missed from the spot with Lloris grabbing the ball, but the penalty was retaken as the French keeper went off the line. In the second effort, Lewandowski didn’t miss, marking his 78th international goal.
Final Score: France 3 – 1 Poland
Goals:
FRA – Giroud – 43rd minute
FRA – Mbappe – 74th minute
FRA – Mbappe – 89th minute
POL – Lewandowski – 90+9th minute (P)
