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Kylian Mbappe and Olivier Giroud net as France beat Poland to secure World Cup quarterfinal place.
France defeated Poland 3-1 on Sunday to progress to the World Cup quarterfinals thanks to goals from Olivier Giroud and Kylian Mbappe.
Early on, Giroud appeared destined to score first as he approached a back-post cross from Ousmane Dembele into an open goal, but he was unable to make it in time. Giroud, however, would not be deterred, putting France in front after 44 minutes with a brilliant turn and shot.
It was his 52nd goal for Les Bleus and gave him the opportunity to surpass Thierry Henry as the nation’s all-time leading scorer for men.
In the 75th minute, Mbappe doubled France’s lead with a strong strike before adding a second with an incredible curling finish into the far top-right corner—his fifth of the competition.
Robert Lewandowski’s penalty gave Poland a late consolation goal. Lewandowski scored after Poland’s striker missed his first effort after referee Jesus Valenzuela demanded a second attempt.
The outcome means that France will meet the winners of England and Senegal, who play later on Sunday, in the quarterfinals to begin their World Cup championship defence.
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After Mbappe’s initial attempts failed to produce clear chances, France took control of the game before ceding it in an effort to carve out space behind the Polish defence.
Poland’s composure was almost rewarded when Lloris parried Piotr Zielenski’s oncoming shot in the 38th minute. Theo Hernandez blocked the midfielder’s second attempt as it then returned to his path.
The next player was Jakub Kaminski, but Raphael Varane stopped his shot inside the goal line. However, France’s strategy paid off with one minute remaining in the half.
Giroud was given an inch of space to clip the ball past Szczesny and score his third goal of the competition after Mbappe attracted the defence to him and slid the ball through into his path.
After scoring twice in the defending champions’ 4-1 victory over Australia in their opening Group D match, the 36-year-old Giroud, who went without a goal in Russia four years prior, had tied Henry for the group’s lead with 51 goals.
France was careless, especially Mbappe, but the striker produced a spine-tingling rising shot that slid under the bar before curling another jaw-dropping goal into the top corner one minute into stoppage time.
Mbappe scored his fourth and fifth goals in Qatar, becoming the first player to reach nine World Cup goals before turning 24. He now has as many goals as Lionel Messi of Argentina.
Dayot Upamecano’s handball offered Lewandowski a chance to score a consolation goal with a penalty, which Lloris initially saved before being retaken and scored because the goalie did not have his feet on the line.