the Blues send a message to the competition by dominating Poland 3-1

An impassable goalkeeper – Wojciech Szczesny – who excels on penalties and a team that likes to defend, since the start of the World Cup in Qatar. This Poland looked like the Paraguay of José Chilavert during the round of 16 of the 1998 World Cup. But, more than two decades later, the Blues managed to avoid the trap by dominating the Poles (3-1), Sunday, December 4 at Doha.

This time, they didn’t need extra time – and the golden goal that no longer exists – to qualify and reach the quarter-finals. The scorers are named Olivier Giroud, his 52^e in Blue (new record), and Kylian Mbappé, author of his fourth and fifth achievements since the start of the tournament, a World record at this stage.

At the Al-Thumama stadium, with its circular architecture, the Poles of Robert Lewandowski did not have sufficient assets to play on the length of the obstacles to go around in circles. However, they almost fired first.

Miracles do not only exist in very Catholic Poland. As the good eldest daughter of the Church, France, even secularized, can still claim its own. Hugo Lloris, initially at fault on a bad recovery, supernaturally stops a point-blank shot from Piotr Zielinski: the ball ricochets off the two knees of the French captain. Behind, the archangel Raphaël Varane lets his foot drag to dismiss another attempt by Jakub Kaminski (38^e).

French miracles

For long minutes, the good Polish defense, catchy and disciplined, manages (almost) to control Kylian Mbappé. When the star striker dodges an opponent, there is often a second or even a third to compensate and stop him in extremis. But when the Paris Saint-Germain striker gives way to his guards, the danger is immediate, like his cross for Ousmane Dembélé (11^e) or a deflected shot for a corner (35^e).

His friends on the offensive lines are not left out. Antoine Griezmann exploits a Polish error, launches Dembélé in depth whose center is too strong despite the tackle from Olivier Giroud (29^e). On the other side, centre-forward Robert Lewandowski reminds French defenders why he remains a formidable goalscorer, despite his isolated position at the forefront of the attack. On a quarterback occasion, at the 21^ethe neo-Barcelonian unleashes a strike in first intention, from just wide, following a failed recovery from Varane.

When the Poles begin to believe in it, the sanction falls. Neat like Giroud’s neat haircut, with a clinical gesture in front of the cage. Inspired passer, Mbappé feels the call of his experienced partner. The Grenoble player tops his shot but crosses it deliciously to deceive Szczesny (44^e, 1-0). This goal is worth double gold: it allows France to take the lead and Giroud offers himself the record for goals in the blue jersey, 52 units now, ahead of Thierry Henry (51).

When you hope to go far in the World Cup, you spare your mount. The France team pushed this maxim to absurdity during its third – bad – match lost against Tunisia (1-0). In the second period on Sunday, Didier Deschamps’ players found the right balance. At the 66^e minute, the coach ensures the blow by replacing Aurélien Tchouaméni (by Youssouf Fofana), the only holder warned and therefore under threat of expulsion.

Bright Rabiot from the start

Bright once again, as since the start of the World Cup, Adrien Rabiot allows a team with a bold philosophy to secure its back. With Antoine Griezmann, the Juventus Turin midfielder links the different lines, compensates and fills the gaps. And it offers freedom to its attackers.

During a counter-attack, Giroud speaks with a fine technique to shift Dembélé. The tricolor winger finds Mbappé, who takes his time before cleaning the right corner of the Polish goalkeeper. The difference is made (74^e2-0), the coach, Didier Deschamps, can let the precious Olivier Giroud and the whimsical Ousmane Dembélé breathe, supplemented by Marcus Thuram and Kingsley Coman (76^e). Without pity, Mbappé once again hit the mark in the other Polish top corner (91^e3-0).

The generosity of the refereeing corps – an unclear hand fault by Dayot Upamecano – offers Robert Lewandowski the possibility of saving honor from the penalty spot, even if he tries twice to deceive Hugo Lloris (99^e3-1).

It doesn’t matter if France concedes a fourth goal in four games. The anthem of 2018 Take the Cup Home resounds in the stadium. These Blues assert themselves as serious and attractive contenders for the title. Saturday, December 10, the teammates of captain Hugo Lloris, who equaled against Poland the record of selections held since 2008 by Lilian Thuram (142), will face the winner of the match between England and Senegal, scheduled for this Sunday evening at 8 p.m. hours.