(Football news) France overcame Poland 3-1 at the Al Thumama Stadium to reach the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup where they will take on England. Oliver Giroud scored the opening goal in the 44th minute, becoming France’s all time top scorer while Kylian Mbappe scored a brace (74’74th minute, 90+1) in what was a dominant performance by the reigning World Champions. Poland’s Robert Lewandowski did score a consolation goal from the spot (90+9) but it was too little, too late. Mbappe’s brace meant that the Frenchman has now scored five goals, two more than any other player in the tournament and remains poised to finish as top scorer.

“The only objective for me is to win the World Cup. The only thing I dream of is this. I came here to win this World Cup. I didn’t come here to win the Golden Ball or Golden Boot. If I win it of course I’m going to be happy but that’s not why I’m here. I’m here to win and I’m here to help the French national team.

“I needed to focus on the tournament and my soccer. When I want to concentrate on something that’s the way I function. And that’s why I didn’t want to come speak to you before now. I’ve been preparing for this tournament throughout the season, physically and mentally. I wanted to be ready for this tournament and I am.”

French forward Kylian Mbappe

“Giroud is an incredible player, there are many who say it now. He was much criticised but Olivier has the mindset to fight. When he is not decisive, he is so useful to the team but like any centre-forward, he prefers the collective victory, but winning with this goal-scoring record, it’s not nothing. He (Mbappe) speaks on the football pitch. He knows that himself but he can change a match in just a moment. He is always playing with such joy. France needed a great Kylian Mbappe tonight and they got one.”

France head coach Didier Deschamps

“The adventure continues. We had said in the dressing room that to live such a great experience we needed to be united, be as one. My wife and my kids are here, as well as my childhood friends. It’s a childhood dream come true to beat Titi (Henry). Now it’s done, I’m putting this behind me and my obsession is to go as far as possible with this team.”

France’s new all-time men’s leading goalscorer Olivier Giroud

“There is no recipe [to stop him]. No one knows the recipe, no coach knows the recipe to stop Mbappe in the form he is in. He hurt us today but I am cheering for him because he is a real star. I’m talking about (Lionel) Messi, (Cristiano) Ronaldo, Lewandowski. If someone is going to take over, I think Mbappe will be the best one (for) many years.

“Getting out of the group stage after 36 years was our main objective. We succeeded, but in the next round we faced the world champions. We are very sorry, today we’re sad and disappointed. As more time passes, we’ll change our perspective. After weeks and months, we can proudly say we achieved what Poland wasn’t able to achieve in 36 years.”

Poland boss Czeslaw Michniewicz

The result meant that France has now progressed in all their Round of 16 matches from the last three editions (2014, 2018 and 2022) while Poland lost consecutive World Cup games by multiple goals for the first time since 2002 (0-2 v Korea Republic and 0-4 v Portugal). Les Bleus have now lost only one of their last seven games in the World Cup knockout stage (2014 against eventual winners Germany 1-0 in the quarterfinals). Olivier Giroud is now the oldest player to score in the knockout stage of the World Cup (36y 65d) since Roger Milla in 1990 against Colombia (38y 34d).

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