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Match preview
Having avoided the dreaded champions curse, France are now just four games away from becoming the first team since Brazil 60 years ago to retain the World Cup.
Les Bleus are the first reigning world champions from Europe since Germany at USA ‘94 to avoid going out in the group stages.
They won their first two matches in Qatar, hammering Australia before edging out Denmark.
With top spot pretty much assured, Didier Deschamps made wholesale changes against Tunisia on Wednesday, and it told; his team were a shambles and deservedly lost 1-0.
Nevertheless, all the big guns will be back for this one, with France overwhelming favourites to get through.
Poland meanwhile are extremely lucky to be here, reaching the knockout phase for the first time in 40 years.
Last time out, they were beaten 2-0 by Argentina, rarely threatening and creating a measly xG figure of 0.31, but that doesn’t begin to tell the story.
Simultaneously, Mexico were 2-0 up against Saudi Arabia, meaning el Tri and Poland were level on points, head-to-head, goal difference and goals scored.
Czesław Michniewicz’s team were advancing on disciplinary record, the seventh tiebreaker, before Saudi Arabia netted in stoppage time and extinguished Mexican hope.
All of that means Poland got over the line, just, but looking unlikely to spring a surprise in this tie.
Will France cruise through to the quarter-finals, where England or Senegal await, at Al-Thumama Stadium?
France team news
None of the player given a chance against Tunisia grasped that opportunity, meaning France’s XI could be the same one that faced Denmark on matchday two.
Benjamin Pavard has been dropped at right-back, with Jules Koundé filling in; he is the only player on a yellow card.
On the other side, Lucas Hernandez’ horrific injury against Australia means he’ll be sidelined for many months and, in the short terms, his younger brother Theo will start.
In the middle, despite not being 100% fit, Raphaël Varane is likely to get the nod, although his partner is unkown.
At the other end of the field, will Didier Deschamps continue to depoy “les quatre fantastiques”?
In the past, he’s been hesitant to deploy a front four, but Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembélé, Kylian Mbappé and Olivier Giroud are set to start as a quartet again.
Giroud will become France’s leading goal-scorer of all-time if he nets, while Hugo Lloris will match Lilian Thuram’s record of 142 caps.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Koundé, Varane, Upamecano, T Hernandez; Tchouaméni, Rabiot, Mbappé, Griezmann, Dembélé; Giroud.
Poland team news
Czesław Michniewicz has switched between a back three and a four at this tournament, but it’s all about getting two strikers on the pitch.
Robert Lewandowski needs a partner, although the cast member chosen to be the robin to his batman is ever-changing.
Arkadiusz Milik started against Saudi Arabia, while Karol Świderski got the nod on Tuesday; Krzysztof Piątek is another alternative.
At the back, Bartosz Bereszyński has played as a right-centre-back in a three and as a full-back, on both sides, so far, making the formation fluid.
In goal, they’ll need Wojciech Szczęsny to continue to be at his best.
He has become just the third man, after another Pol Jan Tomaszewski (1974) and Brad Friedel (2002), to save multiple penalties at the same World Cup (excluding shootouts).
Centre-back Kamil Glik will win his 103rd and, if they go out, potentially last cap; only Lewandowski and Jakub Błaszczykowski have more.
Five players are one booking away from a ban, although they won’t worry about that just yet.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): Szczęsny; Bereszyński, Glik, Kiwior; Cash, Krychowiak, Bielik, Zieliński, Frankowski; Milik, Lewandowski.
France vs Poland: Head to head statistics
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