France advanced to the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup tournament after they beat Poland 3-1 in a last-16 encounter at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on Sunday evening.
Olivier Giroud became France’s all-time record top goalscorer when he gave Les Bleus the lead in the 44th minute. This was the 36-year-old AC Milan forward’s third goal in this World Cup tournament.
The Poles didn’t give up despite trailing by an odd goal and they pressed forward, but failed to get an equaliser even though they created a number of goalscoring opportunities.
It was the French, who scored when Kylian Mbappe netted his fourth goal of the tournament and his eighth World Cup strike from an Ousmane Dembele cross in the 74th minute.
The 23-year-old Mbappe from Paris Saint Germain netted his second goal of the match and his fifth of the tournament in referee’s added time to make it 3-0. Mbappe has now scored nine World Cup goals.
Poland scored their consolation goal through their star striker Robert Lewandowski, who netted from the penalty spot in referee’s added time. This was Lewandowski’s 78th goal in a Poland shirt.
