Olivier Giroud turned France’s all-time males’s report goalscorer as his opener and Kylian Mbappe’s second-half double gave the World Cup holders a 3-1 win over Poland to maneuver them into the quarter-finals.
Giroud scored his 52nd France purpose to surpass Thierry Henry’s report with a neat first-half end (44) to assist fireplace Les Bleus to a last-16 victory in Doha and arrange a quarter-final towards both England or Senegal.
The 36-year-old, who had equalled Henry’s tally of 51 after scoring twice of their opening Group D win over Australia, broke the report on his 117th look for France.
Mbappe then doubled France’s lead within the 74th minute earlier than arrowing in an outstanding second in stoppage time to make it 5 targets in Qatar – two greater than every other participant on the event.
Robert Lewandowski scored a 99th-minute re-taken penalty so as to add a late comfort for Poland to disclaim Hugo Lloris a clear sheet on his record-equalling 142nd look for France.
Kylian Mbappe says his solely concern is successful the World Cup for France regardless of being a number one contender to assert the Golden Boot on 5 targets
How France reached the quarter-finals
France dominated the opening levels on the Al Thumama Stadium and Giroud ought to have given them a Twenty ninth-minute lead as he slid extensive on the again submit from Ousmane Dembele’s cross.
Poland, who have been within the knockout levels for the primary time since 1986, got here near a shock opener as Lloris denied Piotr Zielinski earlier than Jakub Kaminski’s rebound was cleared off the road by Raphael Varane.
Hugo Lloris saved from Piotr Zielinski to disclaim Poland an opener
France took the lead within the forty fourth minute as Mbappe slid in Giroud, who took one contact earlier than ending left-footed previous Wojciech Szczesny for his third purpose of the event as he turned France report males’s goalscorer.
Mbappe then gave France respiration house halfway via the second half as he fired previous Szczesny to make it 2-0 earlier than including a chic third within the prime nook to disclaim Poland a primary World Cup quarter-final look since 1982.
Mbappe scored twice within the win over Poland
They have been the 23-year-old’s fourth and fifth targets in Qatar as Mbappe turned the primary participant to attain 9 World Cup targets earlier than his twenty fourth birthday, having netted as many as Argentina’s 35-year-old Lionel Messi.
A handball by France defender Dayot Upamecano allowed Lewandowski to attain his second World Cup purpose from the spot with the final kick of the sport.
The Barcelona striker’s first penalty was saved by Lloris however the French captain didn’t have his toes on the road as Lewandowski scored on the second try.
Mbappe: Lifting World Cup all that issues for me
France ahead Mbappe stated: “The one goal for me is to win the World Cup. The one factor I dream is that this.
“I got here right here to win this World Cup. I did not come right here to win the Golden Ball or Golden Boot. If I win it after all I will be pleased however that is not why I am right here. I am right here to win and I am right here to assist the French nationwide crew.”
Mbappe additionally defined why he had not addressed the media earlier than Sunday as he stated: “I wanted to concentrate on the event and my soccer,” including that he had volunteered to pay a French federation high quality for his silence.
“Once I need to focus on one thing that is the way in which I operate. And that is why I did not need to come communicate to you prior to now.
“I have been getting ready for this event all through the season, bodily and mentally. I needed to be prepared for this event and I’m.”
Deschamps: Giroud is unbelievable | ‘We would have liked an incredible Mbappe tonight’
France head coach Didier Deschamps: “Giroud is an unbelievable participant, there are numerous who say it now.
“He was a lot criticised however Olivier has the mindset to combat.
“When he’s not decisive, he’s so helpful to the crew however like every centre-forward, he prefers the collective victory, however successful with this goal-scoring report, it is not nothing.”
Deschamps added: “He (Mbappe) speaks on the soccer pitch. He is aware of that himself however he can change a match in only a second. He’s all the time enjoying with such pleasure.
“France wanted an incredible Kylian Mbappe tonight they usually bought one.”
Giroud: Childhood dream to interrupt France report
Giroud scored a report 52nd purpose for the France males’s crew in Qatar
France’s new all-time males’s main goalscorer Giroud stated: “The journey continues. We had stated within the dressing room that to dwell such an incredible expertise we would have liked to be united, be as one.
“My spouse and my youngsters are right here, in addition to my childhood buddies, it is a childhood dream come true to beat Titi (Henry).
“Now it is achieved, I am placing this behind me and my obsession is to go so far as potential with this crew.”
Michniewicz: There is no recipe to cease Mbappe
Mbappe hit a prime of pace of 35kph (22mph) as he tormented Poland’s defence
Poland boss Czeslaw Michniewicz stated of Mbappe: “There is no such thing as a recipe [to stop him]. Nobody is aware of the recipe, no coach is aware of the recipe to cease Mbappe within the type he’s in.
“He harm us as we speak however I’m cheering for him as a result of he’s an actual star.
“I am speaking about (Lionel) Messi, (Cristiano) Ronaldo, Lewandowski. If somebody goes to take over, I feel Mbappe would be the participant to be the very best one (for) a few years.”
Michniewicz on his aspect being knocked out at last-16 stage: “Getting out of the group stage after 36 years was our major goal. We succeeded, however within the subsequent spherical we confronted the world champions.
“We’re very sorry, as we speak we’re unhappy and dissatisfied. As extra time passes, we’ll change our perspective. After weeks and months, we are able to proudly say we achieved what Poland wasn’t in a position to obtain in 36 years.”
Opta stats: France sustain spectacular last-16 report
- France have progressed from all six matches they’ve performed within the spherical of 16 on the World Cup, together with in every of the final three editions in a row (2014, 2018 and 2022).
- Poland misplaced consecutive World Cup video games by a number of targets for the primary time since 2002 (0-2 v Korea Republic and 0-4 v Portugal).
- France have solely misplaced one among their seven video games within the World Cup knockout levels underneath Didier Deschamps (together with finals), with that defeat coming in 2014 to eventual winners Germany (0-1 within the quarter-final). They’ve gained every of their final 5 video games within the World Cup knockout stage since that defeat.
- France’s Olivier Giroud (36y 65d) turned the oldest participant to attain within the knockout levels of the World Cup (excl. personal targets) since Roger Milla in 1990 towards Colombia (38y 34d).
