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France 3-1 Poland: Olivier Giroud, Kylian Mbappe, Robert Lewandowski score

By Shamoon HafezBBC Sport at Al Thumama Stadium, Doha

Last updated on .From the section World Cup comments 1447

Olivier Giroud became France's all-time leading men's goalscorer as the World Cup holders coasted past Poland to reach the quarter-finals.

The AC Milan striker scored his 52nd goal for France to claim the country's outright record, surpassing the great Thierry Henry.

The historic goal came on the stroke of half-time after Giroud controlled Kylian Mbappe's pass before converting low into the net beyond the reach of Wojciech Szczesny.

But having provided the assist for the first goal, the brilliant Mbappe turned on the style by scoring two fabulous strikes in the second half.

He hit a powerful drive into the roof of the net from 16 yards for his first and curled home a wonderful second in injury time to take the lead in the Golden Boot race with five goals.

Didier Deschamps' side had been left frustrated up until the opener and could well have fallen behind.

Poland's best opening in the first half came when the ball dropped for Piotr Zielinski in the centre of the penalty area, but his strike was straight at Hugo Lloris.

Robert Lewandowski did manage a consolation for the Poles, rolling in a penalty with the last kick of the game.

France will play England in the quarter-finals on Saturday, 10 December (19:00 GMT) after England beat Senegal 3-0.

Giroud and Mbappe set new records

Premier League football followers may have thought Giroud was past his best when he left England after 10 seasons with Arsenal and Chelsea to join Milan.

But the 36-year-old scored 14 goals in all competitions last term as he helped the Rossoneri claim the Serie A title for the first time in 11 years.

On his 117th cap, Giroud was desperately looking for that record goal against Poland, grimacing and shaking his head whenever a chance went begging.

He had a great opportunity when Ousmane Dembele flashed a cutback across goal but could not get sufficient contact on the ball and screwed it wide.

He was presented with another big moment on 44 minutes, and this time he converted before being mobbed by all his team-mates during the celebrations.

France will see another of their national records broken should captain Lloris line up in the quarter-final to win a 143rd cap that will take him past legendary defender Lilian Thuram.

But it was Poland who had their goalkeeper Szczesny to thank for just a one-goal deficit at the break. The Juventus stopper dealt with Tchouameni's low drilled strike from range, a Dembele effort after a weaving run and Jules Kounde's shot from a narrow angle.

However, Szczesny was unable to stop Mbappe from breaking another record as he surpassed Pele's tally of scoring seven World Cup goals before the age of 24. The 23-year-old, who celebrates his next birthday two days before the final, scored both his goals came from similar positions in the penalty area to take his World Cup goals to nine in 11 matches.

He has scored 16 goals in his past 14 games for France and 33 overall from 63 appearances.

Barcelona striker Lewandowski barely had a sniff, but stroked home a retaken 99th-minute consolation from the penalty spot - after Lloris moved off his line too quickly in saving the first effort. The Poles are now winless in their last eight meetings against France.

Player of the match

MbappéKylian Mbappé

with an average of 7.97

France

  1. Squad number10Player nameMbappé
    Average rating

    7.97

  2. Squad number9Player nameGiroud
    Average rating

    7.89

  3. Squad number7Player nameGriezmann
    Average rating

    6.79

  4. Squad number11Player nameDembélé
    Average rating

    6.60

  5. Squad number4Player nameVarane
    Average rating

    6.58

  6. Squad number14Player nameRabiot
    Average rating

    6.50

  7. Squad number26Player nameThuram
    Average rating

    6.29

  8. Squad number22Player nameHernández
    Average rating

    6.21

  9. Squad number8Player nameTchouaméni
    Average rating

    6.19

  10. Squad number18Player nameUpamecano
    Average rating

    6.14

  11. Squad number5Player nameKoundé
    Average rating

    6.08

  12. Squad number1Player nameLloris
    Average rating

    6.01

  13. Squad number20Player nameComan
    Average rating

    5.86

  14. Squad number3Player nameDisasi
    Average rating

    5.69

  15. Squad number13Player nameFofana
    Average rating

    5.61

Poland

  1. Squad number2Player nameCash
    Average rating

    7.82

  2. Squad number1Player nameSzczesny
    Average rating

    7.55

  3. Squad number20Player nameZielinski
    Average rating

    6.93

  4. Squad number18Player nameBereszynski
    Average rating

    6.89

  5. Squad number9Player nameLewandowski
    Average rating

    6.81

  6. Squad number11Player nameGrosicki
    Average rating

    6.81

  7. Squad number15Player nameGlik
    Average rating

    6.80

  8. Squad number24Player nameFrankowski
    Average rating

    6.71

  9. Squad number19Player nameSzymanski
    Average rating

    6.60

  10. Squad number14Player nameKiwior
    Average rating

    6.49

  11. Squad number7Player nameMilik
    Average rating

    6.48

  12. Squad number13Player nameKaminski
    Average rating

    6.47

  13. Squad number5Player nameBednarek
    Average rating

    6.40

  14. Squad number10Player nameKrychowiak
    Average rating

    6.35

  15. Squad number21Player nameZalewski
    Average rating

    6.31

  16. Squad number6Player nameBielik
    Average rating

    6.27

Line-ups

France

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1Lloris
  • 5Koundé Substituted forDisasiat 90+2'minutes
  • 4Varane
  • 18Upamecano
  • 22Hernández
  • 8TchouaméniBooked at 31mins Substituted forFofanaat 66'minutes
  • 14Rabiot
  • 11Dembélé Substituted forComanat 76'minutes
  • 7Griezmann
  • 10Mbappé
  • 9Giroud Substituted forThuramat 76'minutes

Substitutes

  • 2Pavard
  • 3Disasi
  • 6Guendouzi
  • 12Kolo Muani
  • 13Fofana
  • 15Veretout
  • 16Mandanda
  • 17Saliba
  • 20Coman
  • 23Aréola
  • 24Konaté
  • 25Camavinga
  • 26Thuram

Poland

Formation 4-1-4-1

  • 1Szczesny
  • 2CashBooked at 88mins
  • 15Glik
  • 14Kiwior Substituted forBednarekat 86'minutes
  • 18BereszynskiBooked at 47mins
  • 10Krychowiak Substituted forBielikat 71'minutes
  • 13Kaminski Substituted forZalewskiat 71'minutes
  • 20Zielinski
  • 19Szymanski Substituted forMilikat 64'minutes
  • 24Frankowski Substituted forGrosickiat 87'minutes
  • 9Lewandowski

Substitutes

  • 3Jedrzejczyk
  • 4Wieteska
  • 5Bednarek
  • 6Bielik
  • 7Milik
  • 8Szymanski
  • 11Grosicki
  • 12Skorupski
  • 16Swiderski
  • 17Zurkowski
  • 21Zalewski
  • 22Grabara
  • 23Piatek
  • 25Gumny
  • 26Skóras
Referee:
Jesús Valenzuela
Attendance:
40,989

Match Stats

Home TeamFranceAway TeamPoland
Possession
Home55%
Away45%
Shots
Home16
Away12
Shots on Target
Home8
Away3
Corners
Home7
Away1
Fouls
Home10
Away8

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, France 3, Poland 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, France 3, Poland 1.

  3. Post update

    Goal! France 3, Poland 1. Robert Lewandowski (Poland) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.

  4. Post update

    VAR Decision: Penalty Poland.

  5. Post update

    Penalty conceded by Dayot Upamecano (France) with a hand ball in the penalty area.

  6. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Robert Lewandowski (Poland) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kamil Grosicki with a cross.

  7. Post update

    Offside, Poland. Robert Lewandowski tries a through ball, but Arkadiusz Milik is caught offside.

  8. Post update

    Attempt missed. Robert Lewandowski (Poland) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Arkadiusz Milik.

  9. Substitution

    Substitution, France. Axel Disasi replaces Jules Koundé.

  10. Goal!

    Goal! France 3, Poland 0. Kylian Mbappé (France) right footed shot from the left side of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Marcus Thuram.

  11. Booking

    Matty Cash (Poland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  12. Post update

    Marcus Thuram (France) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  13. Post update

    Foul by Matty Cash (Poland).

  14. Post update

    Foul by Youssouf Fofana (France).

  15. Post update

    Krystian Bielik (Poland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  16. Substitution

    Substitution, Poland. Kamil Grosicki replaces Przemyslaw Frankowski.

  17. Substitution

    Substitution, Poland. Jan Bednarek replaces Jakub Kiwior.

  18. Post update

    Foul by Kylian Mbappé (France).

  19. Post update

    Nicola Zalewski (Poland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  20. Post update

    Antoine Griezmann (France) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

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Comments

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These comments are now closed.

1447 comments

  • Comment posted by El Matador, at 17:05 4 Dec 2022

    Congrats to Giroud on the personal milestone. Shame ref had stopped play before he buried that gorgeous overhead kick!

    • Reply posted by Footy_fan, at 17:15 4 Dec 2022

      Footy_fan replied:
      Mbappe - what a player! Lightning fast and amazing presence of mind

  • Comment posted by D1695880458791, at 17:07 4 Dec 2022

    What a player Mbappe is. At only 23 just phenomenal.

    • Reply posted by NGOK, at 17:14 4 Dec 2022

      NGOK replied:
      Plays with a nice attitude too.

  • Comment posted by tyro60, at 17:04 4 Dec 2022

    With the exception of Johnathan Pearce, why is the BBC commentary so bad !

    • Reply posted by ianH, at 17:08 4 Dec 2022

      ianH replied:
      They don't care! The money rolls in regardless. Simple. Don't pay.

  • Comment posted by Tigerclubs, at 17:15 4 Dec 2022

    Commentator hurt my ears. Very unpleasant to listen to. Spoilt the watch.

    • Reply posted by D1690188813470, at 17:17 4 Dec 2022

      D1690188813470 replied:
      Get him back on the one show asap

  • Comment posted by midnightrun, at 17:13 4 Dec 2022

    I'm a big fan of female pundits/commentators however the lady who commentated on this match shouts a lot. Less is more (that applies to the male commentators as well)

  • Comment posted by Bob P, at 17:03 4 Dec 2022

    I'm really hoping Woking make a move for Mbappe in the January transfer window.

    • Reply posted by Shaandaar service, at 17:09 4 Dec 2022

      Shaandaar service replied:
      Least they can sign Ronaldo for free, since heard he's become a free agent. Handy signing that considering the squad needs some depth on the bench to supplement their thin squad.

  • Comment posted by D1708727473486, at 17:06 4 Dec 2022

    As expected.
    Outplayed and outclassed on every level.
    Poland was fortunate to get this far as was confirmed here.
    Like them or not, France is the real deal and their crazy money superstars deliver on the biggest stage.

    • Reply posted by NGOK, at 17:13 4 Dec 2022

      NGOK replied:
      Have France played anyone decent yet?

  • Comment posted by Emlyn Hughes, at 17:19 4 Dec 2022

    Why can't we press the red button and turn off commentary? I mean, am I the only one?

    • Reply posted by VFR750, at 17:22 4 Dec 2022

      VFR750 replied:
      No your not, dreadful.

  • Comment posted by NB22, at 17:04 4 Dec 2022

    Congratulations to Giroud breaking the great Henry's record.
    Standard win for France without needing to go up a couple of gears.

    Mbappe though, what a player with so much confidence and tekkers. Amazing.

    I've no doubt he will break Giroud's record in years to come.

    • Reply posted by bbcwatcher, at 17:28 4 Dec 2022

      bbcwatcher replied:
      One of the best in the world I would love to see him come to England.

  • Comment posted by bushmaster80, at 17:22 4 Dec 2022

    Those stuttering penalty run ups need to be outlawed - in fact I think they are but just not enforced.

    Stopping just before kicking it so the keeper dives is cheating.

    • Reply posted by VFR750, at 17:25 4 Dec 2022

      VFR750 replied:
      Keeper shouldn’t dive then.

  • Comment posted by Phoenix, at 17:03 4 Dec 2022

    Mbappe what a talent he is. 8 WC goals and he is still 23. Future Ballon d'or for sure.
    This french team is really one of the best.

    Cant see England going past them......

    • Reply posted by ellis , at 17:17 4 Dec 2022

      ellis replied:
      Fellas been on a promise for over 4 seasons

  • Comment posted by What the Dewson is going on, at 17:08 4 Dec 2022

    After their first game, I picked France to win this WC. If England do get to face them, they are going to need the pace of Walker to try and deal with Mbappé who is the best striker in the tournament.

    • Reply posted by NGOK, at 17:14 4 Dec 2022

      NGOK replied:
      Walker's your man and he'll be up for it!

  • Comment posted by LeatherOnWillow, at 17:16 4 Dec 2022

    France's win today against Poland is as impressive as the Netherland's against USA yesterday. They have total belief in themselves. Mbappe scored two wonderful goals and Giroud was superb too. No disgrace for Poland, they were simply up against the better team. Should England beat Senegal tonight, then I feel we would find France too strong for us in the QF.

    • Reply posted by Matthew1974, at 17:31 4 Dec 2022

      Matthew1974 replied:
      France would smash the Netherlands

  • Comment posted by Jesus Christ almighty , at 17:35 4 Dec 2022

    Giroud - top player with a great attitude. Well done to him!!!

    • Reply posted by The die is cast, at 18:28 4 Dec 2022

      The die is cast replied:
      Fully endorsed. Giroud always plays with a smile on his face. Scored a sensational goal that was struck off and had a chuckle with the ref about it. Can you imagine Klopp's snarling face in similar circumstances. His skill and movement for the second goal were truly world class. You are a credit to the game Olivier.

  • Comment posted by Chorltonite, at 17:10 4 Dec 2022

    That was a ridiculous penalty. What's the rule on handball now - has it changed again?

    • Reply posted by Jimmy, at 17:17 4 Dec 2022

      Jimmy replied:
      That was a ridiculous penalty. The rule of how the actual penalty is taken should be looked at. None of the stupid running/jogging up to the ball and stopping and then kick the ball.

  • Comment posted by 2 cents, at 17:07 4 Dec 2022

    Allez les Bleus. What a performance from the world champions.

    • Reply posted by liverpool supporter right here, at 17:28 4 Dec 2022

      liverpool supporter right here replied:
      Mbappe was the star player. If you stop him you stop France

  • Comment posted by whaleoilbeefhooked, at 17:19 4 Dec 2022

    Anyone who thinks England can beat France in the QF is deluded.

    • Reply posted by VFR750, at 17:21 4 Dec 2022

      VFR750 replied:
      Certainly not if its Senegal v France.

  • Comment posted by Dave, at 17:11 4 Dec 2022

    I might be wrong but I think that that Mbappe chap has played before

    • Reply posted by The Spin Doctor, at 19:23 4 Dec 2022

      The Spin Doctor replied:
      He sure is some player!

  • Comment posted by Mr singh, at 17:39 4 Dec 2022

    Mbappe best player in this tournment by a mile. Yes bbc he is better than pin up boy Grealish.

    • Reply posted by Spoons, at 19:06 4 Dec 2022

      Spoons replied:
      Almost as good as Griezmann.

  • Comment posted by Cod Peace, at 17:23 4 Dec 2022

    If England get past the Senegal test, they aren't beating France

    • Reply posted by hgytrefxm, at 18:15 4 Dec 2022

      hgytrefxm replied:
      Ahahahhahahahahahahahaha

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