An excellent double from Kylian Mbappe fired France into the World Cup quarterfinals on Sunday as England romped past Senegal to arrange a mouthwatering last-eight showdown with Les Bleus.
France ahead Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring his workforce’s third purpose through the Qatar 2022 World Cup spherical of 16 soccer match between France and Poland on the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha on 4 December 2022. Picture: FRANCK FIFE/AFP
DOHA – An excellent double from Kylian Mbappe fired France into the World Cup quarterfinals on Sunday as England romped past Senegal to arrange a mouthwatering last-eight showdown with Les Bleus.
Paris Saint-Germain famous person Mbappe rifled house two blistering second-half strikes as France cruised to a 3-1 victory over Poland.
Veteran striker Olivier Giroud opened the scoring for the defending champions together with his 52nd worldwide purpose to move Thierry Henry as France’s all-time main scorer.
In Sunday’s late recreation, England turned on the model with a assured 3-0 victory over African champions Senegal, the objectives coming from Jordan Henderson, Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka.
It signifies that France and England will face one another on Saturday in a heavyweight quarterfinal collision – solely their third assembly at a World Cup event after earlier encounters on the 1966 and 1982 finals.
The undisputed star of France’s win on the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha was the 23-year-old Mbappe, who took his profession World Cup objectives tally to 9 in two tournaments.
“It wasn’t easy because Poland were well organised and tried to counter us,” France coach Didier Deschamps stated.
“Then there is Kylian with his ability to resolve all sorts of problems, and that’s just as well for us.
“This workforce has been united from the start and clearly a end result like this one confirms that. The pleasure is shared amongst everybody.”
Poland’s lone strike came from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time, with striker Robert Lewandowski converting a retaken spot-kick that was awarded for handball by Dayot Upamecano.
France are bidding to become the first team to win successive World Cups since Brazil in 1958 and 1962 after winning Group D in Qatar.
With Mbappe in blistering form, few would bet against France completing their quest for a third World Cup crown to set alongside their titles in 1998 and 2018.
BELLINGHAM SHINES IN ENGLAND WIN
However their route to the final now includes an increasingly confident England, who powered into the last eight with an impressive win over the Senegalese at the Al Bayt Stadium.
Teenage midfielder Jude Bellingham was the star of the show for manager Gareth Southgate’s side, producing another all-action display with an assist for Henderson’s opener before a surging run to help set up a goal for Kane.
Saka, surprisingly recalled to the starting line-up in place of the in-form Marcus Rashford, bagged his third goal of the tournament after a well-worked move in the second half.
Kane’s strike was his 52nd international goal, leaving him just one behind Wayne Rooney’s all-time England scoring mark of 53 goals.
“Knockout video games are by no means simple, we confirmed nice maturity by the event,” England captain Kane said after the win.
“3-0 towards a very good aspect, credit score to the boys, the mentality was high from the start and we took our probabilities once they got here.
“We feel good, we’ve got good runners, we’ve got good players getting forward and then solid at the back. Three clean sheets in a row is really important. A really good day for us.”
Off the pitch on Sunday, Arsene Wenger, FIFA’s soccer growth chief, instructed that the groups who’ve been profitable within the event had been those that ignored the controversies surrounding hosts Qatar.
Germany’s gamers coated their mouths earlier than their opening recreation in a protest towards the ban on sporting a rainbow-themed armband in assist of LGBTQ rights.
The four-time world champions had been later knocked out on the first hurdle.
“The teams (who did well) as well who were mentally ready, who had the mindset to focus on the competition and not on political demonstrations,” stated Wenger.
Brazil in the meantime ready for his or her last-16 conflict with South Korea on Monday boosted by information that star striker Neymar may return.
The PSG ahead has not performed since limping off with an ankle damage in Brazil’s opening recreation, however coach Tite stated Sunday he was hopeful Neymar would characteristic towards the Koreans.
“Regarding Neymar, he’s going to train this afternoon and if he’s OK, he will play tomorrow,” Tite stated.