Match Report

France Beat Poland 3-1 to Reach World Cup Quarter-Finals

Match Report

France beat Poland 3-1 in the last 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2022 on Sunday (December 4); Olivier Giroud scored the opener to become France's all-time men's top scorer.

Giroud opened the scoring in the 44th minute, heading in a cross from Kylian Mbappe. Mbappe doubled France's lead in the 74th minute, finishing off a counterattack with a delicate chip over Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.

Robert Lewandowski pulled one back for Poland in the 90th minute, but it was too little too late. France held on to win 3-1, and they will now face England in the quarter-finals.

Reaction

France coach Didier Deschamps was delighted with the win, saying: "We played a great match. We were solid defensively and dangerous going forward. We deserved to win."

Poland coach Czesław Michniewicz was disappointed with the defeat, but he praised his team for their effort. "We gave it our all, but we were not good enough today," he said. "France were the better team, and they deserved to win."

Giroud was understandably proud to break Thierry Henry's record as France's all-time top scorer. "It's an incredible feeling," he said. "I'm so happy to have scored the winning goal and to have helped my team reach the quarter-finals."