Olivier Giroud and Kylian Mbappe displayed some ruthless finishing to haul France into the quarter-finals of the World Cup despite an underwhelming performance against Poland.
Poland played the better football in the first half but could not take their chances and Giroud gave France the lead against the run of the play right before the break at Al Thumama Stadium, becoming his country’s all-time top scorer in the process on 52 goals.
Poland kept fighting in the second half but were caught out on the counterattack as they committed numbers forward in pursuit of an equaliser, Mbappe sealing the holders’ passage to the quarter-finals with a clinical finish from just outside the area.
The 23-year-old striker adorned the French victory by scoring a sensational second goal in added time but Robert Lewandowski managed to get a consolation strike for Poland from the penalty spot, converting his second attempt after spurning his first before a re-take was ordered.
Player of the match
Kylian Mbappe
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