In a duel between star strikers, world champions France and Kylian Mbappé beat Poland and Robert Lewandowski in the World Cup last 16. Coach Didier Deschamps’ team won 3-1 (1-0) at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha on Sunday. Olivier Giroud (44th minute) gave the French the lead shortly before the break on an assist from Mbappé. The Paris Saint-Germain superstar then clinched the win himself in front of 40,989 spectators with two brilliant goals (74./90.+1).

The Poles, who had reached the knockout stage of a World Cup for the first time since 1986, were able to keep the unequal duel with the big favourites more open for long periods than many had expected, but remained too unthreatening. Lewandowski scored in injury time from a handball (90.+9) following video evidence.

For the French, it was a game of records: goalkeeper Hugo Lloris equalled record international Lilian Thuram with his 142nd appearance for the Équipe Tricolore. Giroud passed Thierry Henry with his 52nd international goal and is now the sole record scorer for the French.