Defending champion France booked its place in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Qatar, after defeating Poland, 3-1, on Sunday, at Al-Thumama Stadium, in the round of 16 competitions.
The match started with a French advantage, which Tchoamene could have translated into an early goal had it not been for the brilliance of goalkeeper Chesney in defending his goal, to be answered by Robert Lewandowski with a shot that passed near the post.
Halfway through the first half, the Polish national team dared and attacked with attempts that posed great danger in front of the French goal, while the French retreated and resorted to the movements of Kylian Mbappe and Osman Dembele in the rapid rebound to surprise Chesney.
The 44th minute witnessed the “roosters” scoring their first goal after a distinguished pass from Mbappe to Olivier Giroud, who did not hesitate to deposit the ball in the net, signing on his 52nd international goal, thus surpassing Thierry Henry as the best scorer in the history of the French national team.
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In the second half, Poland tried to get the result back, but Mbappe found the space to score a second goal in the 74th minute, following a counterattack by Dembele, then passed to his unmarked teammate.
After the goal, Poland surrendered to reality amid complete control of the field by France, which added a beautiful third goal in the first minute of stoppage time through Mbappe, who received and hit from inside the penalty area a curved ball that Chesney was unable to reach.
While the match was taking its last breath, the referee awarded a penalty kick to Poland, which Lewandowski successfully executed, scoring his country’s only goal before bidding farewell to the tournament.
With this, France became the third qualifier to the second round after Argentina and the Netherlands, and awaits the winner from facing England and Senegal.
