Both striker Olivier Giroud and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris broke France national team records, while Kylian Mbappe scored a brace as Les Bleus eliminated Poland from the World Cup with a 3-1 win Sunday.
With his 52nd goal, Giroud passed Thierry Henry as France’s all-time top scorer. On his end, Lloris became the most capped player in French men’s national team history passing Lilian Thuram with 142 games between the pipes.
France advance to the quarterfinal where they will take on the winners of the England-Senegal round of 16 match.
Giroud completed the feat just before halftime when he accepted Mbappe’s pass inside the box and beat his former Arsenal teammate in goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny. After the goal, Giroud turned to the cameras and made a “5-2” sign with his fingers. He then made a “T” sign and saluted Henry.
Kylian Mbappe iced the match with two second-half goals. He sent a point-blank strike from inside the box in the 74th minute. Then completed the brace in stoppage time to confirm the French victory.
The goals were his eighth and ninth for France at a World Cup, the second most in the nation’s history. He now trails Juste Fontaine, who scored 13 goals in a single World Cup back in 1958.
Poland was given a late penalty after Dayot Upamecano made a handball in the box. Lloris saved Robert Lewandowski’s first kick from the spot, but the French keeper was off his line and the penalty was re-taken. The Polish striker spoiled Lloris’ clean sheet on his second attempt.
