World Cup: France beat Poland to reach quarter-finals - reaction

1. Giroud becomes France's all-time record goalscorer with opener
2. Ex-Arsenal & Chelsea forward Giroud now on 52 international goals
3. Mbappe adds two more goals with fine strikes into top corner
4. Lewandowski scores stoppage-time penalty consolation for Poland
5. France will face England or Senegal, who play at 19:00 GMT
6. England set to recall Saka for last-16 game, with Rashford dropping to bench
7. Get Involved: #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – texts will be charged at your standard message rate), or text your comments via WhatsApp on 03301231826

'Poland are going to shock everyone'

I'm not sure why, but I have persistent nagging sense that Poland are going shock everyone and win today. Only because they've been poor all tournament but have one really good performance in them and now that Lewandowski has broken his World Cup scoring duck, I think he's going to bag a brace today.

Gareth

Dion Dublin

Former England striker on BBC One

Matty Cash has got a big job on his hands today, he's got his hands full.

Kylian Mbappe doesn't know any other way to play other than taking his opponent on.

Getty Images

The noise levels go up as Kylian Mbappe gets the ball on the left. Adrien Rabiot's cross is poor - but moments later France win a corner on the other side.

Antoine Griezmann swings it in but it's over everyone and curls behind for a goal-kick. Bit of a waste.

France will want to take an early lead here so they can relax against quite a defensive team. Antoine Griezmann wins a free-kick on the right wing after 20 seconds,

KICK-OFF

Here we go. Kylian Mbappe or Robert Lewandowski? France or Poland? Let's find out.

'As unlikely as Saudi Arabia beating Argentina'

Chris Sutton

Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

We've seen a lot of surprises.

But based on what I've seen of Poland this would be up there with Saudi Arabia beating Argentina.

They have been so passive. They need to pack a punch. If they are to get through today they have to take the game to France at some stage.

'Mbappe is unplayable'

Rio Ferdinand

Former England defender on BBC One

I love watching Kylian Mbappe and you want him to do well and produce the moments.

The pace and intelligence he has makes him unplayable.

Wolfsburg winger Jakub Kaminski, 20, is set to become the youngest player to make an appearance for Poland in the World Cup knockout phase since 1974, when Zdzislaw Kapka, 19, and Wladyslaw Zmuda, 20, played against Brazil in the third-place play-off.

France captain Hugo Lloris wins a joint record 142nd cap for Les Bleus, level with 1998 World Cup winner Lilian Thuram.

If France win today you'd expect he'll take the record on his own on Saturday.

Fun fact - Thuram's son, Marcus, is on the bench.

Lloris also equals Thierry Henry and Fabien Barthez for the joint-most World Cup appearances for Les Bleus (17). Including Euros this is his 32nd major tournament appearance - a joint record with Thuram Sr.

Olivier Giroud is bidding to become France's all-time top scorer today. He is level with Thierry Henry on 51 international goals.

BBC

'France should brush Poland aside'

Richard: Poland are awful. How they've managed to make it this far is beyond me. France should brush them aside.

Is anybody out there giving Poland a chance?

A lot of empty seats

Chris Bevan

BBC Sport at Al Thumama Stadium, Qatar

BBC Sport

There are still a lot of empty seats in here as both national anthems are banged out - although that could still change before kick-off of course.

Poland boss Czeslaw Michniewicz: "We played difficult passes in easy situations [against Argentina], we didn't create enough opportunities for Robert. Strikers like that, they need to be near the penalty box.

"In order to take advantage of every team we need to bring the strikers to the right zone. You can't normally score from your own half."

Plenty of empty seats as the players come out for the national anthem.

And we know there's not a load of fans finishing their pint before taking their seat...

Kylian Mbappe has had nine more shots (16) and five more shots on target (seven) than any France player in the 2022 World Cup.

Only Just Fontaine (13) has more World Cup goals for France than Mbappe (seven).

Four years ago he netted twice at this stage against Argentina.

I'm Irish and didn't even know Boyzlife was a thing. Keith Duffy and Brian McFadden apparently.

Boyzlife are in the building

Chris Bevan

BBC Sport at Al Thumama Stadium, Qatar

I honestly didn't know Boyzlife were a thing until they just appeared on the pitch to bang out a cover of Kool & The Gang's classic, Celebration.

Nothing gets you in the mood for a World Cup last-16 tie better than a supergroup made up of former Boyzone and Westlife members, I can tell you.

'It is about the will to win'

Laura Georges

Former France international on BBC Radio 5 Live

When I saw nine changes [against Tunisia] I was really happy for the players, it was a good way to give consideration to the players and keep them motivated. Unfortunately some players didn't show up.

We didn't do well last game but it should not affect us. It is about the will to win the game, not about who starts.

Everyone is focused on winning this game. We are confident. If we play well we can achieve but if we don't take it seriously it can be complicated.

Kylian Mbappe likes to take care of business. Everybody knows today we need him and he is the forward everyone is looking at.

What are the chances?

Simon Gleave

Head of sports analysis, Nielsen Gracenote

France (ranked six in the world by Gracenote) face 24th-ranked Poland in the first of today's matches.

Poland haven't beaten a team as good as France since a 2-0 win against Germany in European Championship qualification in 2014.

However, Poland have recorded four draws against this level of opponent since the last World Cup (Italy in 2020, England and Spain in 2021, Netherlands in 2022).

France are given 65% chance of reaching the quarter-finals by Gracenote's forecasts whereas Poland have just 35% chance of continuing in the competition.