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The France team won 3 to 1 their round of 16 on Sunday against Poland. Olivier Giroud, who on this occasion broke Thierry Henry’s record as top scorer in the history of the Blues, and Kylian Mbappé scored the three goals.
Like a symbol! The now top scorer in the history of the Blues with the one who will probably break his record. Olivier Giroud and Kylian Mbappé showed the way to the Blues by winning in the round of 16 against Poland (3-1).
“It will do”, “We have the best attack”, “We are on our way to the third star” … In front of the Al-Thumama stadium, the French supporters had obviously not learned the lessons of the Euro -2021. Switzerland, like Poland today, was then seen as a good draw in the round of 16, a comeback and a penalty shootout later it was homecoming and grimace soup for the Blues and their supporters.
However, the players appear concentrated at kick-off and hold their rank as favorites of the meeting. The ball circulates from one foot to the other with fluidity, the Blues try, like a handball team, to find the fault in the ultra-compact block of the Poles. But the opener struggled to come: a header from Varane from a corner passed over (4th), a long shot from Tchouaméni was repelled with difficulty (13th) as was that of Dembélé (17th).
Giroud especially misses the conclusion of a superb collective movement. Griezmann recovers the ball in the Polish camp, he shifts Dembélé who crosses hard at ground level but Giroud misses his tackle in front of the empty goal (29th).
Present and future?
Opposite, the Poles try to fire any wood and faced with a feverish defense, it fails to work several times. Bereszyński deposits Koundé on the right side, he finds Zieliński behind. The Pole’s strike is repelled by a superb reflex from Lloris, the ball goes back to Zieliński who tries his luck again but Varane in turn saves the Blues (38th).
Captain Hugo Lloris appears particularly inside, he who nevertheless celebrates his 142nd international match, equaling the record of Lilian Thuram. It also equals the number of World Cup appearances, which was co-owned by Fabien Barthez and Thierry Henry.
It is however another record of Henry which falls just before the break, almost against the current of the match. Olivier Giroud is found in the back of the Polish defense and takes the opportunity to become the top scorer in the history of the French team (44th, 1-0). The now legend of the Blues makes the 52 sign with his fingers before Mbappé jumps into his arms to congratulate him.
Returning from the locker room, the France team pushes to take cover but the French attackers lack precision in the last gesture. Poland is, as for it, as anesthetized, in spite of the entry of Milik. It is only dangerous from a set piece, like this free kick and the head of Glik: which passes over the French cage.
Olivier Giroud barely misses one of the goals of the tournament. He managed a magnificent return that ended at the bottom. But the referee refuses this goal because of a fault by Varane on his aerial duel with Szczesny (57th).
It is therefore ultimately the inevitable Mbappé who shelters the Blues. The number 10 concludes with a curled shot in the left corner of Szczesny (74th, 2-0). Then cleans it again at the end of regulation time (90th). At 23, this is already his 32nd and 33rd goals with the France team, Giroud’s record may not last very long.
Hugo Lloris, by stopping a penalty offered by the VAR, believes to preserve at the last minute the first French clean sheet of the tournament but the referee withdraws. The doorman is this time taken on the wrong foot by Lewandowski (90th + 9).
On arrival, a place in the quarter-finals of the World Cup. The minimum for the Blues under the Deschamps era. And in the next round, the Blues will have to eat lion. It remains to be seen whether it will be those of Teranga or the English Three Lions.
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