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This combination works: Kylian Mbappé and Olivier Giroud
Photo: Ali Haider/EPA
The French national team has reached the quarterfinals of the World Cup in Qatar.
The 2018 world champion prevailed 3-1 (1-0) against Poland.
The goals were scored by Olivier Giroud (44') and Kylian Mbappé (74', 90' + 1').
Giroud's 52nd international goal overtook Thierry Henry to become the sole all-time leading goalscorer.
In stoppage time, Robert Lewandowski scored a consolation goal.
The opponent of the French will be determined in the game between England and Senegal in the evening.
At first it was a one-goal game.
France kept coming through, especially through Kylian Mbappé, but neither Giroud (9th) nor Ousmane Dembélé (11th) were able to convert the superstar's crosses.
After about 20 minutes, the Poles got braver.
Robert Lewandowski tried a shot from around 25 meters out, but missed the goal (21').
After that, France should have taken the lead.
Dembélé got through on the right and passed inside, where Giroud rushed in but scrambled the ball wide of the post (29').
But the Poles were also good in the game - and missed the lead with a triple chance.
First Piotr Zieliński was denied by keeper Hugo Lloris, then defender Raphaël Varane scraped Zieliński's follow-up shot off the line before the ball came to Matthew Cash, who was also unsuccessful with his shot (38').
The Poles were now really involved in the game - and still went into the half-time break with a deficit.
Mbappé freed Giroud, who shot the ball past keeper Wojciech Szczęsny (44').
Giroud's second goal doesn't count
In the second half, Poland started the game briskly, France used the space and switched quickly again and again.
In the 57th minute, Giroud scored again with an overhead kick to make it supposedly 2-0, but the goal didn't count because Varane had previously been supported by Cash in the aerial duel.
The Poles tried a few things, Lewandowski often wore himself out in midfield, but didn't have any real chances.
Mbappé then made the decision.
The French countered, Giroud and Dembélé passed the ball to Mbappé.
He had a lot of space, put the ball on his right foot and hit the left corner (74th).
The Poles were no longer able to counter this setback.
France keeper Hugo Lloris earned his 142nd cap, level with the previous record player Lilian Thuram.
Shortly before the end, Mbappé followed up again when he flicked the ball into the right angle (90 + 1).
It was his fifth goal at this World Cup.
In the last minute of added time, Dayot Upamecano was handed the ball in the penalty area and Poland were awarded a penalty.
Lewandowski missed on the first try but referee Jesús Valenzuela had the penalty retaken because Lloris had moved too early.
In the second attempt, the Barcelona striker scored to make it 3-1.
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