AL THUMAMA, Qatar — France cruised into the World Cup quarterfinals in Qatar with Olivier Giroud and Kylian Mbappe claiming the goals to overcome Poland in a 3-1 win. Robert Lewandowski‘s stoppage time penalty — taken twice due to keeper Hugo Lloris moving too soon to save the first spot-kick — was a late consolation for the Poles.
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Poland, who claimed a Round of 16 spot ahead of Mexico on goal difference, had no answer to the world champions’ attacking talents, despite going close to opening the scoring in the first-half. But after making a slow start to the game, France made easy work of the tie in the end to book a quarterfinal tie against either England or Senegal.
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Rapid reaction
1. Giroud does it again as France reach quarterfinals
Olivier Giroud is now out on his own as France’s all-time leading goalscorer after setting the world champions on their way to a Round of 16 victory against Poland. The 36-year-old AC Milan forward’s first-half goal, when he latched onto Kylian Mbappe’s pass before hitting a left-foot shot beyond Polish keeper Wojciech Szczesny, was his 52nd for Les Bleus and moved him clear of Thierry Henry as his country’s most productive goalscorer.
France have produced some incredible attacking talent over the years — Henry, Zinedine Zidane, Nicolas Anelka, Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin — but Giroud has more than all of them, yet he continues to fight for the recognition that his achievements deserve. But even though the former Arsenal and Chelsea striker is under-rated by so many, Deschamps knows exactly what he brings to the France team, especially now that Karim Benzema‘s injury has ruled him out of the tournament. Beyond his goals, Giroud brings experience, maturity, the ability to link play and hold the ball up and also provides a wise head for the younger forwards around him.
And no matter who France face in the last eight — England or Senegal — Giroud will pose as big a problem as the incredible Mbappe. Every team is frightened of Mbappe’s pace and goal threat, but give Giroud a chance anywhere in the penalty area and he will take it. Any opponent that underestimates Giroud could end up seeing their World Cup dreams extinguished by him.
