The duel between two of Europe's star forwards was colorless. Kylian Mbappe beat Robert Lewandowski in the same way France beat Poland (3-1). The French forward scored two spectacular goals and was unstoppable every time they received the ball, while Poland, despite scoring a penalty goal at the end of the game, had a disappointing game and dropped the ball.
Poland took the field prepared for a whirlwind game and so it was for the first half hour of play. Mbappe and Dembelé were unstoppable, and only the good thing the Polish center-back did was prevent the first goal from going in early. Czeslaw Michniewicz’s team could not get close to the dividing line, but they also didn’t give the French any clear-cut shots. Madrid's Tchouameni had one of the best chances with a long-range shot that was deflected by goalkeeper Szczesny.
🚀 @atchouameni pone a prueba a @13Szczesny13
Manda #FRA en los primeros minutos#GolMundial pic.twitter.com/JBVjIxw3T1
— Gol Mundial (@Gol) December 4, 2022
Poland’s feeble reaction
Eventually, the Polish team managed to advance and began to create a different game. The lack of pressure from Didier Deschamps' team, which preferred to retreat to launch quick counterattacks, allowed Poland to increase their intensity. They did this first with a deflected shot from Lewandowski, followed by a chance that Lloris and two defenders fought to prevent the goal.
🤯 La triple ocasión de #POL 🤯#GolMundial pic.twitter.com/yfJOWIy5rK
— Gol Mundial (@Gol) December 4, 2022
Giroud, France's all-time top scorer
Just when it looked like France might be in real trouble, just as the first half was about to end, Giroud overtook Thierry Henry as the Bleus’ all-time leading scorer after exploiting the space created by Mbappe in a battle with the center-backs.
💪🏽 ¡Grítalo, @_OlivierGiroud_!
💥 El '9' pone por delante a #FRA y se convierte en el máximo goleador de la historia de la selección francesa con 52 goles#GolMundial pic.twitter.com/liY9tTPGHQ
— Gol Mundial (@Gol) December 4, 2022
Mbappe sentences
After coming out of the locker room, Poland continued to fail to instill fear while France controlled the game. The gaps that the Polish team left made it easier for the skillful and fast French wingers. In this dynamic, a counter-attack allowed Mbappe to receive alone. The forward was able to stop, settle the ball and shoot unchallenged to beat Szcezsny.
¡Esas no las perdona @KMbappe! 🔝
⚽️ Controla, mira, apunta y gol
✈️ Contenido patrocinado por @emirates #FlyBetter#GolMundial pic.twitter.com/H7uVLikCBD
— Gol Mundial (@Gol) December 4, 2022
Shortly afterwards, the French forward completed his brace with another fine shot, this time into the far corner of the net. Poland scored the consolation goal from the penalty spot, but even that was a bit bizarre. After the VAR decided that there was a handball by the French defense, Lewandowski missed the penalty, which was horribly shot. Due to the defenders' encroachment into the box, the penalty was redone and then Lewandowski beat Lloris.
¡Gran partido y victoria de #LesBleus para clasificar a los Cuartos de Final de la #CopaMundialFIFA!
— Copa Mundial FIFA 🏆 (@fifaworldcup_es) December 4, 2022
