FIFA World Cup Recap: Super Mbappe and Co. Dismantle Poland
Image Credit: Sky News
QATAR — In the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, there was this 19-year-old wonder kid who seemed unstoppable. He won that World Cup.
The kid, now 23, is Kylian Mbappe, who was key to France’s 3-1 victory.
France are heavy favorites to win the World Cup this year, considering their squad is boasting with quality, especially in attack. Forwards such as Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Olivier Giroud, and Antoine Griezmann have been key to Les Bleus’s success so far this year.
Didier Deschamps is hoping to emulate his victorious campaign from the last World Cup. Their group-stage games saw them collect six points from two wins against Denmark and Australia and a loss to Tunisia.
Poland has qualified for the FIFA World Cup nine times, even finishing in third place twice in the competition (1974 and 1982). However, since then, the Polish have been unable to progress past the Round of 16, which was more of the same this year from the White-Reds.
Their most decorated player and captain, Robert Lewandowski, seems to have run down his time in the World Cup. They performed well in the group stage, drawing against Mexico, losing to Argentina, and beating Saudi Arabia to see them through to the knockout phase.
Image Credit: FIFA
France lined up with a strong XI, with Hugo Lloris in goal, Kounde and Theo Hernandez in the full-back positions, and Varane and Upamecano in the heart of the back line. Tchouameni and Rabiot took up the center of midfield with Antione Griezmann in the CAM role, with Mbappe and Dembele on the wings and Olivier Giroud, the main man up top.
Poland didn’t change their 4-1-4-1 formation too much, considering it has been pretty efficient at shutting teams out and scoring goals. Wojciech Szczęsny stayed in goal, having been one of Poland’s best players, with Matty Cash and Bereszynksi covering the flanks and Kiwior and Glik covering the central part of the backline.
Krychowiak was the defensive midfielder, with Szymanski and Zielinski in the attacking roles. Frankowski and Kaminski were on the wings, with Lewandowski as the lone striker.
From the moment the game kicked off, it was all France. Poland did manage to get two clear opportunities but failed to capitalize when it mattered.
France had several chances to get ahead, eventually going ahead in the 43rd minute, thanks to a decent effort from Olivier Giroud. The goal made him France’s all-time leading goal scorer after leveling with Thierry Henry’s record earlier this World Cup.
The technique was almost like a chip, but not just any chip. Giroud almost hit the ball into the ground, giving it a small hop that went over the diving Szczęsny. The chip is actually an original technique mastered by Mesut Ozil, one of Giroud’s teammates during his time at Arsenal.
Image Credit: FIFA
France kept up the attack in the second half, seeking more goals in the rest of the game. Poland was pushed against a wall, having no choice but to defend for the remainder of the game. It would be futile as France unleashed their strongest weapon, Mr. Kylian Mbappe.
Dembele played a neat pass into the Parisian, who took his time and smashed a clean shot toward the near post, putting it right past Szczęsny. It wouldn’t be the last time Mbappe had a moment of brilliance, as the 23-year-old took a finesse shot into the far upright corner and heard the satisfying sound of the net. However, Poland wouldn’t leave empty-handed, as Lewandowski scored a penalty in the 98th minute.
France’s hiccup against Tunisia has been quickly forgotten, and for a good reason. Attacking-wise, France has one of the strongest teams in the world, and it seems impossible to stop them. It’ll be interesting to see how they handle England in the quarter-finals, who have been defensively brilliant, only conceding two goals against Iran and keeping three clean sheets everywhere else.
The quarter-finals begin on Friday, with England facing France on Saturday.