France Vs Poland: World Cup 2022 Round Of 16 – Live

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20 minutes Tchouameni’s cross from the left bounces around the six-yard box before Szczesny parries it. Poland breaks out and Lewandowski straps an excellent left-footed shot from 25 meters just wide of the goal. Lloris had it covered, but it was sweet.

19 mins If Poland are going to deliver a shock they need to bring Zielinski into play, let alone Lewandowski.

18 mins “It is,” says Justin Kavanagh. “I am sending Lewandowski a nice new football for Christmas this year. God knows the poor man won’t have seen one for six weeks.”

16 mins It feels like a matter of time before France score. Dembele wins the ball high up in the field, puts Giroud in by not using it, but then drives too close to Szczesny from the D edge.

France dominates in all departments. Photo: Matthew Childs/Portal

Updated at 15:20 GMT

15 minutes Griezmann’s through ball is just too difficult for Giroud.

15 minutes “Do you think,” says Anis Aslaam, “that Poland can play in Greece in 2004 and win the cup?”

How to put that politely?

13 mins Tchouameni whistles a low drive from 25 yards, which is well held by Szczesny, diving deep to the right to push it away. It’s all France.

Updated at 15:14 GMT

12 mins “The crowd looks more like ‘early rounds of the carabao’ than World Cup R-16s,” says Ben Kybatt. “The mood differences at this tournament were exceptional, with some countries filling the stands with extremely noisy fans (e.g. Argentina, Saudi) and others struggling to attract spectators (the hosts and most European teams). All very strange.”

As a matter of fact. Argentina vs Mexico was a great game with an atmosphere that will last forever.

11 mins Mbappe beats Cash with a startling change of pace and crosses over the far post to Dembele. He collects, stands on the right foot and hits a shot that ricochets off a defender for the corner.

9 mins Hernandez hits Cash on the left and slices off a dangerous cross which is headed back by the stooping Bereszynski (I think). This time Griezmann’s corner is boxed away by Szczesny.

9 mins Griezmann stabs a pass over the side of the defense towards Giroud. Cash (I think) reads it well and clears.

7 mins “Rob, greetings from wet Cali,” says Mary Waltz. “The discussion about what formation the Poles used is a bit pointless. France will spend 70% of the game in the Polish half of the field. Poland’s only hope is a clean sheet followed by a penalty shoot-out.”

5 minutes Varane passes the ball back to Lloris, who gives Upamecano a stinky pass with a Polish player on his butt. Upamecano just manages to squeeze the ball out to Hernandez on the left.

Raphael Varane looks unhappy. Photo: Francois Nel/Getty Images

Updated at 15:11 GMT

4 mins Griezmann’s corner kick is headed wide of the target by Varane, five yards away. He was under a lot of pressure so it wasn’t an easy chance. But it was a chance.

3 minutes Dembele’s cross is deflected back to the first corner of the game. It feels like the pattern of the game has already been set: attack and defend, invade and defend.

2 minutes Griezmann is fouled 30 meters from the goal, approximately at the level of the right edge of the penalty area. He flips a free kick that swings inwards and he drifts back for the goal kick.

1 minute It looks more like a 4-1-4-1 for Poland than a back five.

1 minute Peep peep! France starts from left to right in front of a full house.

Maybe it’s the purely European aspect – neither has much support here – but quite a dismal crowd ahead of France vs Poland unless there’s a serious number of laggards to be caught outside pic.twitter.com/jCOlHI7yFO
— Daniel McDonnell (@McDonnellDan) December 4, 2022

“Wonderful that clip from the 1986 game – thanks” says Charles Antaki. “It also makes you think of Pele (who of course wasn’t involved in 1986) and how the Brazilian camp will react to the sadness of his situation. It doesn’t take more than a brief reflection on the tear-jerking hysteria of 2014 to make her believe that a little dignity and discretion will go a long way here. But if he dies during the competition…”

And if they play Argentina in the final… but fortunately the latest news is a bit more encouraging.

The players line up for the anthems. Here is our verdict on Poland.

It is called Dabrowskis Mazurka, which means “Poland is not lost yet”. The lyrics were written by Jozef Wybicki in 1797, but the composer of the music is unknown. The anthem is filled with patriotism and belief in regaining independence after it was lost in the Third Partition of Poland to Russia, Prussia and Austria. It expresses the idea that the nation, although no longer an independent state, would live on as long as the people fought on its behalf.

“If it’s something like the last game, Surely Poland’s formation should be 9-0-1?” says Kevin Ryan. “TDA.”

Good yes. A 5-2-2-1 formation is not without euphemistic potential.

Ten minutes until kick-off

Let’s have a reminder about the teams.

France (4-2-3-1) Lloris; Kounde, Varane, Upamecano, T. Hernandez; Tshouameni, Rabiot; Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe; Giroud.
Substitutes: Mandanda, Areola, Pavard, Disasi, Guendouzi, Kolo Muani, Fofana, Veretout, Saliba, Coman, Konate, Camavinga, Thuram.

Poland (possible 5-2-2-1) Szczesny; Cash, Bereszynsky, Kiwior, Glik, Frankowski; Szymanski, Krychowiak; Zielinski, Kaminski; Lewandowski.
Substitutes: Skorupski, Grabara, Jedrzejczyk, Wieteska, Bednarek, Bielik, Milik, D Szymanski, Grosicki, Swiderski, Zurkowski, Zalewski, Piatek, Gumny, Skoras.

referee Jesus Valenzuela Saez (Venezuela)

Olivier Giroud could make history today. He has scored 51 goals for France, same as Thierry Henry, and needs one to become France’s all-time top scorer. Not bad for a player who has been easily patronized throughout his career.

Updated at 14:42 GMT

The BBC has Poland’s formation as 4-1-4-1, as below, instead of 5-2-2-1. Time will tell at this point.

Poland Szczesny; Cash, Kiwior, Glik, Bereszynski; Krychowiak; Kaminski, Zielinski, S. Szymanski, Frankowski; Lewandowski.

“This Brazil vs Poland throwback video — we need a station that “reboots” spinning screens and the big flashing yellow R indicating a repeat, says Pat. “So 80s. So great. See it in full glory at 5:30 in the video.”

Give it to Messi

“France,” says Jeff Sachs, “are Brazil’s only serious challenger.”

They could also meet in the finals. I still think Spain, England, Portugal or Argentina could win in that order, although France and Brazil seem the most likely.

This is Poland’s first knockout game at a World Cup since 1986. as they scared Brazil before eventually losing 4-0. Their spirits were broken early in the second half when Josimar scored another monstrous goal to make it 2-0.

The best shocks occur if you (think) know the result beforehand

At the latest whimper versus bang

Team news: Nine changes for France

Didier Deschamps makes nine changes from the Tunisia game and returns to the squad that beat Denmark eight days ago. Raphael Varane and Aurelien Tchouameni are the only men to start on Wednesday.

Poland coach Czeslaw Michniewicz makes two changes to the team that lost to Argentina. Sebastian Szymanski and Jakub Kaminski replace Krystian Bielik and Karol Swiderski, which could mean a move to the back five.

referee Jesus Valenzuela Saez (Venezuela)

Sebastian Szymanski

Updated at 14:23 GMT

Hugo Lloris starts today against Poland and with 142 caps becomes the most capped player in French football history, level with Lilian Thuram. What an incredible achievement!
— Julien Laurens (@LaurensJulien) December 4, 2022

I see that Amélie Poulain has been up to mischief again

preamble

The best way to achieve greatness is to keep something. ok, nothing No one put Modena in the Pantheon when they won the Anglo-Italian Cup in 1981 and 1982. But the World Cup, that’s the ultimate. It has only been held twice, by Italy in 1938 and Brazil in 1962, and no team has even come close since the turn of the century.

Winning back-to-back World Cups is no lonely, sensible argument, and that’s what France are hoping to achieve in the next fortnight. Qualifying for the knockout rounds is a great start. Incredibly, and for once I don’t misuse that word, four of the previous five holders were eliminated in the group stage, including France in 2002. Don’t try to understand; Just put it under F, Bra.

Even without half a dozen of their best players, France and Kylian Mbappe in particular looked menacing in wins over Australia and Denmark. Their reserve team lost to Tunisia on Wednesday, although there is reassuring precedent for that. At Euro 2000, France’s B team lost the third group game against the Netherlands; The A team won the tournament.

France’s road to Qatar glory was complicated by Spain’s defeat by Japan during the week. They may now have to beat England, Spain and either Argentina or Brazil to win the cup. But first, Des, you must take care of Poland. This part feels easy, although we said the same thing before they lost to Switzerland in the same stage of Euro 2020.

Still, tail tucked in after qualifying for the last 16, Poland looks ripe for evisceration. It feels like they lost tonight’s game on Wednesday night. They were heavily criticized for their passive, pragmatic loss to Argentina and things like that can destroy morale. Who knew good behavior could be so deplorable?

kicking off 3pm GMT, 6pm in Al Thumama, 4pm in Paris and Warsaw. The winners play England or Senegal in the final quarterfinals on Saturday night.

Updated at 13:48 GMT