In the duel of the strikers, world champions France around Kylian Mbappé prevailed against Poland and Robert Lewandowski in the World Cup round of 16. Coach Didier Deschamps’ team won 3-1 (1-0) at Doha’s Al-Thumama Stadium on Sunday. On submission by Mbappé, Olivier Giroud (44th minute) put the French ahead just before the break. The superstar from Paris Saint-Germain then made the decision himself in front of 40,989 spectators with two brilliant goals (74th/90th + 1).
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The Poles, who were in the knockout stage of a World Cup for the first time since 1986, were able to make the unequal duel with the big favorites more open than many had assumed, but remained too harmless and left a huge multiple chance in the first half unused. In injury time, Lewandowski scored with a hand penalty (90 + 9) after video evidence.
It was a record game for the French: Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris drew level with record national player Lilian Thuram with his 142nd appearance for the “Équipe Tricolore”. Giroud passed Thierry Henry with his 52nd international goal and is now the French’s sole record scorer.
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