«Roosters» overcome the obstacle of Poland

The “record” Giro and the “amazing” Mbappe lead France to the quarter-finals

• Mbappe and Jiro celebrate winning and qualifying.

  EPA

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Olivier Giroud became France's all-time top scorer, and Kylian Mbappe added two goals with two stunning shots, as defending champions France beat Poland 3-1 and reached the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup yesterday.

France pressed from the start, but waited until near the break when Giroud scored and raised his score to 52 goals with his country, then Mbappe settled the victory with a powerful shot in the 74th minute, before adding a third goal in stoppage time.

Poland, appearing in the knockout rounds for the first time since 1986 and dreaming of their first quarter-final appearance since 1982, created a dangerous first-half chance but France's midfield blocked striker Robert Lewandowski's supply, who pulled one back from the penalty spot with the last shot of the game.

France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris participated in his 142nd international match and now shares the record in his country with Lilian Thuram, and he gathered his experience when he saved a dangerous opportunity from Piotr Jelinski.

France coach Didier Deschamps had warned before the match that Poland is not just Lewandowski, and he was right in his opinion at Al Thumama Stadium.

France began the meeting with complete control of the game and tried to create spaces behind the Poland defense, while Mbappe initially failed to create a threat.

Poland almost scored against the run of play in the 38th minute, as Zelinski hit a powerful ball that was saved by Loris and received, and Theo Hernandez, France defender, tried to clear it.

Poland's Jakub Kaminski followed the ball and fired a shot that France defender Raphael Varane cleared off the line.

One minute before the break, France scored.

Mbappe drew Poland's defense towards him and passed the ball to Giroud, who took advantage of an empty space in the penalty area and hit the ball past goalkeeper Szczesny, raising his tally to three goals in the current tournament.

The 36-year-old Giroud, who did not score a goal at the World Cup in Russia four years ago, shared the record for goals with France after scoring twice in a 4-1 win over Australia in the opening match of Group D.

France's performance appeared to have slipped, but Mbappe won the ball on the edge of the penalty area and cut slightly before firing a stunning shot into the net, before repeating the shot at the beginning of stoppage time.

Mbappe scored his fourth and fifth goals in Qatar, and became the first player to score nine goals in the World Cup before he turned 24, and has now reached the credits of Lionel Messi, the 35-year-old Argentina captain.

Mbappe thus succeeded in forgetting his sorrows in the European Championship last year when he missed a decisive penalty kick that gifted Switzerland the qualifying card for the quarter-finals after excelling in the penalty shootout and following a 3-3 draw.

Daewoo Obamecano, France's defender, touched the ball with his hand, and a penalty kick was awarded after returning to the video assistant referee, and goalkeeper Loris saved Lewandowski's shot at first, before the referee decided to return it due to the French goalkeeper advancing off the line.

Lewandowski scored from the second attempt.

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