Kylian Mbappe scored two sublime goals as France stormed into the World Cup quarter-finals
World Cup 2022 Highlights – France 3-1 Poland, Olivier Giroud and Kyilan Mbappe displayed some ruthless finishing as France advanced to quarterfinals.
Game Highlights
Poland was surprisingly the better side in the first half, while France should have led very early if former Arsenal man Giroud had diverted Ousmane Dembele’s low cross in to the net.
Czesław Michniewicz’s side had opportunities, with the closest they were to a opening were Piotr Zielinski and then Jakub Kaminski saw their consecutive shots blocked and saved by Les Bleus’s defence.
The moment that changed it all came when Mbappe and Giroud combined to give France the lead right before the break.
Mbappe took advantage of Poland’s defence pushing up and slotted a pass into strike partner Giroud, who took one touch to totally control the ball before slotting it into the bottom of the net.
An important goal as it helped the veteran surpassed Thierry Henry as France’s highest ever goalscorer (52 goals), and gave Les Bleus the control of the game.
The 36-year-old had the ball in the net again just before the hour with a spectacular overhead kick, but the whistle had already gone for a foul on Szczesny.
Pushing for an equaliser, Poland kept fighting in the second half but were caught out on the counterattack, this gave Mbappe chances to punish them.
Mbappe’s brace
In the 74th minute, Mbappe produced a clinical finish from just outside the area to double the lead.
Following a nice work again from Giroud leading to Dembele finding Mbappe to the left of the penalty area, Mbappe scurled the ball high past Szczesny into the near post.
The 23-year-old striker then adorned the French victory by scoring another sensational second goal in added time.
Robert Lewandowski managed to get a consolation strike for Poland from the penalty spot, Poland were awarded a last-minute penalty after a VAR check for handball against Dayot Upamecano.
The Barcelona man converted his second attempt after spurning his first before a re-take was ordered.
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1-3 was the final score of the 2022 World Cup last-16 tie between two european sides.
For Poland, they did very well, with Czeslaw Michniewicz’s men head home after Poland’s first match in the knockout stage of a World Cup since 1986.
Notable Facts
France will play in the World Cup quarter finals in three consecutive tournament editions (2014, 2018, 2022) for the first time in their history.
52 – Olivier Giroud scored his 52nd goal for the French national team, overtaking Thierry Henry to become the top goalscorer in Les Bleus’ history.
Mbappe has now scored 9 goals at the World cup before turning 24 overtaking Pele who scored 7.
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