JONATHAN SHALLARD in DOHA: Olivier Giroud wrote his name into the French football record books and two-goal Kylian Mbappe took over as the World Cup’s top scorer by propelling Les Bleus into the quarter-final of the 2022 finals at Al Thumama.

Giroud’s first-half goal was the 36-year-old’s 52nd for his country in 116 appearances over 11 years while Mbappe’s two thunderous second-half strikes were the 23-year-old’s fourth and fifth of the tournament.

The reigning World Cup holders thus progressed with a 3-1 win over a Poland side who were very uch second-best and had to wait until the last kick of second-half stoppage time for Robert Lewandowski’s penalty sign-off.

France built their victory on the solid foundation of a first half which they dominated, save for one brief spell when Poland put aside the caution which has marked their entire campaign in Qatar. They might easily have taken the lead before France had opened the scoring.

Busy Szczesny

Raphael Varane headed a corner over the bar, Ousmane Dembele and Jules Kounde both cut inside to unleash angled drives saved by Wojciech Szczesny, Giroud jabbed wide after being put in by Dembele while Mbappe was also denied by the keeper at the expense of a corner.

Poland’s rare excursions upfield brought one drive wide from captain Lewandowski before a slice of remarkable rapid-fire action saw Piotr Zielinski have a shot parried by Hugo Lloris and his follow-up blocked by Theo Hernandez before Varane finally came to the rescue.

France, reminded that they had to win the game, duly took the lead two minutes before halftime.

They did so by cutting open the heart of the Polish defence. Dayot Upamecano fed Mbappe whose deft through pass allowed Giroud to make amends for his earlier miss. Giroud thus exceeded the 51-goal French scoring record set by Thierry Henry.

Goal disallowed

Jakub Kaminski had a shot deflected for a corner just before the interval but Poland were unable to build on that encouragement after the break.

Another shot from Mbappe was diverted for a corner and Giroud had a goal with an acrobatic overhead bicycle kick disallowed before France extended their lead in the 74th minute.

Varane hooked a clearance out of defence, Giroud controlled it, fed Dembele on the right and the winger crossed to the left where Mbappe capitalised on the space and time to thrash a ferocious shot into the near top corner.

Mbappe provided a power-driving repeat in the 90th minute before Lewandowski, with a twice-taken penalty, completed the scoring in what was Poland’s first knockout stage appearance in 36 years.

France not far from their best but will with room to improve – and, ominously, a quarter-final against England or Senegal in which to do it.

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