France and Poland faced off in the first last-16 game of the day on Sunday afternoon, with the winner set to meet England or Senegal in the quarter-finals next Saturday.
France headed into the game as the heavy favourites to advance. And when all was said and done, they came away with a fairly comfortable win.
France dominated from the get-go, as was to be expected. They tested Szczesny a few times in the first 15 minutes but never carved out a big chance.
Robert Lewandowski then had Poland’s first half-chance of the match, smashing an effort wide from outside the box after dispossessing Tchouameni.
Olivier Giroud then came close to opening the scoring after Dembele burst down the right and put the ball across the box, but it was too fast for Giroud to get across properly.
France eventually broke the deadlock after 43 minutes. Kylian Mbappe played a through ball to Giroud who finished well.
Giroud then scored an overhead kick but the whistle had already gone after Varane fouled Matty Cash.
And after struggling to create very little in the second half, Poland opted to bring on another striker to support Lewandowski.
Yet again, though, it was France who struck the next blow, this time through Mbappe. Giroud brought down a clearance with a superb touch. He then played the ball off to Dembele, continued his run forward and dragged a defender inside, allowing Dembele to cross to Mbappe.
Mbappe then curled in his second of the day in the 90th minute to round out the win.
Poland were awarded a penalty late in injury time for a handball. Hugo Lloris saved but he was off his line so it had to be retaken, with Lewandowski scoring the second effort.
📰 Table Of Contents
France player ratings
- GK: Hugo Lloris (6)
- RB: Jules Kounde (6)
- CB: Raphael Varane (7)
- CB: Dayot Upamecano (6.5)
- LB: Theo Hernandez (6)
- CDM: Aurelien Tchouameni (6)
- CDM: Adrien Rabiot (6.5)
- RM: Ousmane Dembele (7)
- CAM: Antonie Griezmann (7)
- LM: Kylian Mbappe (9)
- ST: Oliver Giroud (8.5)
Substitutes
- Youssouf Fofana (5)
- Marcus Thuram (5)
- Kingsley Koman (5)
- Axel Disasi (N/A)
Poland player ratings
- GK: Wojciech Szczesny (5)
- RB: Matty Cash (6.5)
- CB: Kamil Glik (5)
- CB: Jakub Kiwior (5)
- LB: Bartosz Bereszynski (5)
- CDM: Grezgorz Krychowiak (5.5)
- RM: Jakub Kaminski (5)
- CM: Piot Zielinski (5)
- CM: Karol Swiderski (5)
- LM: Jakub Frankowski (5)
- ST: Robert Lewandowski (6.5)
Substitutes
- Arkadiusz Milik (4.5)
- Krystian Bielik (4)
- Nicola Zalewski (4)
- Kamil Grosicki (N/A)
- Jan Bednarek (N/A)
Match reaction
92% pass accuracy
30 touches
22 passes completed
2 interceptions
1 block
1 goal-line clearanceBrilliant clearance to deny Poland the opener. 💪 pic.twitter.com/SfFfr4QtQ0
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) December 4, 2022
Hugo Lloris has equalled Lilian Thuram’s record as France’s all-time most capped player.
142 not out. #FRA #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/sgWsppSSTL
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) December 4, 2022
France have had 69% possession in the opening 15 minutes vs. Poland.
Nice. #FIFAWorldCup
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) December 4, 2022
He’s been outstanding https://t.co/jEzXQMMSSt
— Carrie Brown 💙 (@CarrieBrownTV) December 4, 2022
1. Olivier Giroud – 52
2. Thierry Henry – 51
3. Antoine Griezmann – 42
4. Michel Platini – 41
5. Karim Benzema – 37France have a new all-time top scorer!! 🇫🇷
And his name is… @_OlivierGiroud_!! 🙌#ITVFootball | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/xEw3DUrtYM
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) December 4, 2022
Szczesny has cleaned out Varane and his defender and somehow been given the free-kick. Loose ball went to Giroud, who scored with an overhead kick. That should have gone to VAR because France have been done there
— Mark Ogden (@MarkOgden_) December 4, 2022
Olivier Giroud robbed of one of the goals of the tournament 🤯🤯🤯 Was that a foul??? #FRA
— Olivia Buzaglo (@OliviaBuzaglo) December 4, 2022
France plays proper football maan pic.twitter.com/KRT3bA1TG3
— Annelisa Kamba (@sweetdohll) December 4, 2022
Kylian Mbappe has now scored the most #FIFAWorldCup goals (8) before the age of 24.
He surpasses Pele’s record. #Fra
— Shamoon Hafez (@ShamoonHafez) December 4, 2022
Best player in the world right now https://t.co/mf33uNoIP1
— neal (@nealsamuels) December 4, 2022
