Olivier Giroud turns into France’s highest scorer with 52 targets as his workforce achieves 3-1 win in final 16.
A purpose for Olivier Giroud and two for Kylian Mbappe noticed France beat Poland 3-1 to qualify for the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Qatar.
Together with his level, Giroud grew to become France’s highest scorer at 52 targets as France dominated the sport on Sunday at Al Thumama Stadium.
They took command of the match from the beginning, trying to discover house behind the Polish defence, however Mbappe’s first forays did not result in clear possibilities.
Poland had been within the knockout stage for the primary time since 1986 and in search of their first quarter-final look since 1982, however France’s midfield did a fantastic job at slicing their feeding line to star striker Robert Lewandowski, who lowered the arrears with a twice-taken, last-second penalty.
French keeper Hugo Lloris made his 142nd look and is now tied with Lilian Thuram as France’s most-capped participant. His expertise mattered when he made an excellent fast save to disclaim Piotr Zielinski.
Poland’s poise got here near being rewarded within the thirty eighth minute when onrushing Zielinski’s shot was parried by Lloris. The ball then got here again into the midfielder’s path, however his second try was deflected by Theo Hernandez.
Jakub Kaminski adopted, just for his shot to be saved near the purpose line by Raphael Varane.
One minute from the break, nonetheless, France’s techniques paid off.
Mbappe drew the defence to him and slid the ball by into the trail of Giroud, who grabbed the inch of house he wanted to clip the ball previous Szczesny and web his third purpose of the match.
The 36-year-old Giroud, who didn't rating in Russia 4 years in the past, had drawn stage with Thierry Henry on 51 targets after netting a double within the defending champions’ 4-1 win over Australia of their opening Group D recreation.
Mbappe made it 2-0 with a strong, rising shot that went beneath the bar earlier than he curled one other jaw-dropping shot into the highest nook one minute into harm time.
They had been his fourth and fifth targets in Qatar, and Mbappe grew to become the primary participant to attain 9 World Cup targets earlier than his twenty fourth birthday, having already netted as many as Argentina’s 35-year-old Lionel Messi. Mbappe may nonetheless play in two extra World Cups by the point he’s 32.
It helped Mbappe to erase painful reminiscences from final yr’s European championship when he missed the decisive penalty that despatched Switzerland into the final eight after a shootout following a 3-3 draw.
A handball by Dayot Upamecano gave Lewandowski an opportunity to attain a comfort purpose with a penalty that was first saved by Lloris earlier than being retaken – and scored – as a result of the keeper didn't have his ft on the road
France will play in within the quarter-finals towards the winner of Sunday night time’s conflict between England and Senegal.
Coach Didier Deschamps had warned that there was extra to Poland than Lewandowski, and he was proved proper because the French had been at instances shaky on the again.
“It’s not been straightforward as a result of they’re a well-organised workforce and we needed to make some positional adjustments at half-time,” Deschamps mentioned.
“We’re a united squad, and tonight the gamers’ impeccable behaviour has been rewarded,” he mentioned. “Now we’re going to spend somewhat little bit of time with our households.”
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