France cruised into the World Cup quarterfinals in Qatar with Olivier Giroud and Kylian Mbappe claiming the goals to overcome Poland in a 3-1 win. Robert Lewandowski’s stoppage-time penalty — taken twice because of keeper Hugo Lloris moving too soon to save the first spot-kick — was a late consolation for the Poles.
Poland, which had claimed a round-of-16 spot ahead of Mexico on goal difference, had no answer to the world champions’ attacking talents, despite going close to opening the scoring in the first half. But after making a slow start to the game, France made easy work of the tie in the end to book a quarterfinal matchup against England or Senegal.
Olivier Giroud is now out on his own as France’s all-time leading scorer after setting the world champions on their way to a round-of-16 victory against Poland. The 36-year-old AC Milan forward’s first-half goal, when he latched onto Kylian Mbappe’s pass before hitting a left-foot shot beyond Polish keeper Wojciech Szczesny, was his 52nd for Les Bleus and moved him clear of Thierry Henry as his country’s most productive scorer.
France have produced some incredible attacking talent over the years — Henry, Zinedine Zidane, Nicolas Anelka, Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin, to name a few. Giroud has more than all of them yet continues to fight for the recognition that his achievements deserve. But even though the former Arsenal and Chelsea striker is under-rated by so many, Didier Deschamps knows exactly what he brings to the France team, especially now that Karim Benzema’s injury has ruled him out of the tournament. Beyond his goals, Giroud brings experience, maturity, the ability to link play and hold the ball up, and a wise head for the younger forwards around him.
No matter whom France face in the last eight — England or Senegal — Giroud will pose as big a problem as the incredible Mbappe. Every team is frightened of Mbappe’s pace and goal threat, but give Giroud a chance anywhere in the penalty area and he will take it. Any opponent that underestimates Giroud could see their World Cup dreams extinguished by him.
Defending champions France have made it into the quarterfinals without coming close to hitting top gear so far in the competition, so that is a good sign for Deschamps and his players in that it seems there is more to come. But maybe there isn’t, and perhaps all of France’s injuries to key players are beginning to hit the team’s ability to reach the heights they are capable of.
Deschamps was already without long-term absentees Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante when he named his squad for Qatar, and losing those two midfielders, who were key figures at Russia 2018, was always going to be tough to overcome. But to also lose Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema and full-back Lucas Hernandez after arriving in Qatar has hurt France even harder. Benzema, for one, is irreplaceable, despite Olivier Giroud’s impressive performances as his replacement. So having lost two of the world’s best midfielders and 2022’s most in-form striker, France are limping into the last eight.
They have made it this far without facing a top team, but now they are at the business end of the tournament, the injuries to their best players will really begin to bite. It could end up being the difference between retaining the World Cup or losing to the first good team they face.
