Oliver Giroud. (Photo by MB Media/Getty Images)
kylian mbappe set a historical target for Olivier Giroud and then scored twice himself as champions France advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals with a 3-1 win over Poland on Sunday.
Giroud’s opening goal a minute before halftime was his 52nd for his country, allowing him to move past Thierry Henry to become France’s all-time goalscorer.
Mbappé’s lethal goal in the 74th minute wiped out any chance of a comeback for Poland and he scored again in the death to move to nine goals in just 11 World Cup appearances.
At the other end, Robert Lewandowski’s threat was stifled by the French defence, although the 34-year-old Poland captain took the consolation of scoring a penalty in injury time.
France are marching to the quarterfinals and are on course to become the first team to successfully defend the World Cup since Brazil 60 years ago.
“It was not easy because Poland was well organized and tried to counter us,” France coach Didier Deschamps told broadcaster TF1.
“Then there’s Kylian with his ability to solve all kinds of problems, and that’s good for us.
“This team has been united from the beginning and obviously a result like this confirms it. Joy is shared among all.
Llorís landmark
France were heavy favorites against a Poland team that limped through the group stage and had not won a World Cup tie since 1982.
“We came out of the group stage for the first time since 1986. That was our main goal,” Poland coach Czeslaw Michniewicz said.
But he added: “There is no recipe to stop Mbappé in the form he is in now.”
Mbappé returned as one of nine changes following their inconsequential loss to Tunisia, with goalkeeper and captain Hugo Lloris also returning to win his 142nd cap.
That saw him equal the record for most appearances in France, held by Lilian Thuram, whose son Marcus came off the bench here.
It was a historic occasion for France, but what Deschamps wanted above all else was a routine victory and progression to the quarterfinals.
The sky should be the limit for a French team led by Mbappé, but it’s not just him.
Ousmane Dembele and Antoine Griezmann got off to a good start in a quiet atmosphere at the Al Thumama Stadium.
Emphatic
Fans were happy to sit back and get excited when the big screen at one point showed Mbappe having reached a top speed of 35 kilometers (21 miles) per hour.
France’s pace and pressure proved too much for Poland as Przemyslaw Frankowski gave up possession, prompting Dembele to cross to the back post for Giroud to deflect the ball away.
Poland recovered from a faltering start to almost take the lead on 38 minutes when Lloris blocked Piotr Zielinski’s shot and Jakub Kaminski’s follow-up was saved on the line by Raphael Varane.
Those mistakes proved crucial as France took the lead a minute before half time.
The patient build game ended with Mbappe looking on as he received the ball just outside the box before playing on Giroud, who took a touch and shot into the far corner.
Poland stayed to chase the game in the second half and sent Juventus striker Arkadiusz Milik to support Lewandowski for the final half hour.
However, their attack was no match for France, who eliminated Poland to make it 2-0.
A Griezmann clearance was brought down by Giroud and he released Dembélé, whose cross ball was controlled before Mbappé finished it off.
It was a forceful finish and was followed by another of a similar caliber from a Thuram assist in stoppage time.
Only Just Fontaine, who scored 13 in 1958, has scored more World Cup goals for France than Mbappé.
Lewandowski scored right at the end, converting a repeated penalty that was awarded by handball by Dayot Upamecano.
