Defending champions France tackle Poland of their FIFA World Cup 2022 Spherical of 16 conflict on Sunday afternoon.
Kylian Mbappe led France will look to punch their ticket to the final eight of the World Cup after they tackle Poland within the last-16 at on on the Al-Thumama Stadium on Sunday.
Didier Deschamps’ aspect cruised by means of the group stage and superior to the spherical of 16 with a recreation to spare, permitting Deschamps to relaxation his main gamers in France’s dead-rubber encounter in opposition to Tunisia.
Les Blues made a wholesale 9 modifications for his or her recreation in opposition to the North African opponent and fell to a shock 1-0 loss of their last group recreation, with Adrien Rabiot, Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Antoine Griezmann all coming off the bench late within the recreation.
Regardless of their loss, France go into the sport as overwhelming favorites to beat Poland after snapping the long-running underperformance jinx by changing into the primary defending World Cup winner to achieve the spherical of 16 since Brazil in 2006.
For sure, Mbappe was France’s talisman within the group phases, getting on the scoresheet thrice throughout Les Bleus’ opening two group video games, having opened his account in a 4-1 victory over Australia earlier than bagging a brace to tug his nation over the road in a difficult recreation in opposition to Denmark.
The France celebrity could have his sights set on profitable the extremely coveted World Cup Golden Boot, and this match in opposition to a weak Polish defence would possibly present a superb alternative for him to distance himself from the remainder of the chasing pack as France appears to be like to place Poland to the sword right here.
However, Poland progressed for the knockout phases by a hair’s breadth, primarily after their 2-0 loss to Argentina within the final group recreation.
At one cut-off date, the White and Reds have been on their option to spherical 16 solely as a result of they’d much less yellow playing cards than Mexico, however Saudi Arabia’s late strike within the simultaneous recreation assured Poland made it to the knockout spherical for the primary time since 1986.
They’re clearly the underdogs right here, and far of their hopes will relaxation on the shoulders of the Prolific Pole, Robert Lewandowski, who just lately broke his World Cup duck with a aim in opposition to Saudi Arabia.
Juventus shot-stopper Wojciech Szczesny has saved Poland’s hopes alive to date within the event. He has saved two penalties and is ready for an additional busy evening in between the sticks for Poland right here.
France vs Poland confirmed lineups
France XI (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Kounde, Varane, Upamecano, T. Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe; Giroud
Poland XI (3-4-2-1): Szczesny; Bereszynski, Glik, Kiwior; Money, Szymanski, Krychowiak, Frankowski; Kaminski, Zielinski; Lewandowski
France vs Poland LIVE updates
France and Poland’s upcoming fixtures
The winner of this match will face the victor of England’s last-16 conflict in opposition to Senegal within the final-8 subsequent Saturday. With France and England the odds-on favourites to return out on high right this moment, a mouth-watering quarterfinal tie might be on the playing cards.