The third and fourth last-16 ties at World Cup 2022 and two convincing displays which pairs France and England together in next weekend’s quarter-finals.
Both nations showed elements of their ‘Sunday best’ with World Cup highlights to see off Poland and Senegal respectively.
Now the nations ranked fourth and fifth in the world are set to go into fascinating battle and fascinating is the word.
Highlights of the game
Reigning world champions France had advanced to the knockout phase with a game to spare.
Arguably that was an achievement in itself, given how the holders have fared over the past 16 years. Indeed, Les Bleus were the first reigning world champions since Brazil in 2006 to progress beyond the group stage of the tournament.
Poland had sneaked through on goal difference, without ever really impressing and their main man, Robert Lewandowski, often starved of service.
He was to cut a lonely figure in attack for long spells in the Al Thumama Stadium too in what may prove to be his final appearance on this stage.
If so, then it was fitting that he was able to roll in a penalty with the final kick of the game to notch a consolation as the Poles were well beaten.
Before then, one of the most exciting players in the world gave us another glimpse of his frightening talent.
Indeed, Kylian Mbappe’s second half brace took his tally to five goals in four games at this World Cup, already surpassing his tally from his previous appearance in 2018 (four goals in seven games).
At the same time, he also equalled Thierry Henry and Fabien Barthez for the joint-most World Cup appearances for Les Bleus (17).
To put that into context, Mbappe is not 25 until the day of the final.
There was, however, another milestone to savour in blue.
For when Olivier Giroud rifled the ball low past Wojciech Szczesny on the stroke of half-time – set up by Mbappe, of course – he became his country’s all-time leading goalscorer, surpassing modern day great Henry with his 52nd international goal.
Then Mbappe took over with a powerful drive into the roof of the net before curling home a third in stoppage time.
France will now meet England who ran out 3-0 winners over Senegal.
The teams’ first ever meeting, while England were at full strength, the African champions were missing two of their best players, both who know plenty about England – talisman Sadio Mane and Idrissa Gana Gueye, currently on loan at Everton.
This was only the second time Senegal had negotiated safe passage to the knockout phase.
Not to be underestimated, they had improved slowly since arriving in the Middle East and manager Aliou Cisse, supported by assistant El Hadji Diouf, another hero of Senegal’s legendary 2002 campaign, was aiming to lead his nation into the quarter-finals; perhaps setting up an emotional re-match with France, who they slayed in the finals’ opening game some 20 years ago.
Cisse had taken some criticism since taking over in 2015 for his tactics but you can’t question his record. He led them to the Africa Cup of Nations title and two World Cup qualifications – now a place in the last 16 for the first time since 2002, when he was the captain.
This was one match too many, however, and two England goals in the final seven minutes of the first half quashed their spirit.
They had a slight edge before then with a Boulaye Dia volley blocked by the knee of John Stones before Ismaila Sarr fired over and then saw his shot saved by Jordan Pickford.
Seven minutes before the break, though, England broke swiftly and from Jude Bellingham’s driving run and pull-back, midfielder Jordan Henderson side-footed home the opener.
Captain Harry Kane’s expert and controlled finish shortly afterwards, following fine play by Bellingham and Phil Foden, left the African champions on the brink.
Confidence is everything and three became the magic number 12 minutes after the restart and again Foden was instrumental, riding challenges superbly and delivering a superb cross to Bukayo Saka whose deft finish capped off a fine win.
And so onto Saturday – make sure to study the SBOTOP World Cup betting odds for the latest.
Key statistics
Giroud (36 years, 65 days) has become the oldest goalscorer in the knockout stages of the World Cup since Roger Milla in 1990 (38 years, 34 days).
Aged 23 years and 349 days, Mbappe is the youngest player to reach five knockout stage goals at the World Cup since Pele in 1958 (17 years, 249 days).
Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has now equalled Lilian Thuram as the most capped player in the history of the French national team (142 caps).
This was Antoine Griezmann’s 71st successive appearance for France, an all-time national record.
With 137 matches and 78 goals on the international stage under his belt, Lewandowski is not only his country’s most-capped player, but he is also its all-time leading goalscorer – by quite some distance.
England are now unbeaten in their eight matches against African opponents in the FIFA World Cup, with their previous knock-out fixture of this nature coming against Cameroon in a World Cup classic in 1990.
Foden is the first England player to assist two goals in a single World Cup knockout stage game since David Beckham against Denmark at the same stage in 2002.
This is the first time England have kept three successive clean sheets at the World Cup since 2002.
Senegal have not kept a clean sheet in their past 11 World Cup matches.
What’s next?
It’s onto the quarter-finals now for both winners and they will meet each other in the Al Bayt Stadium on Saturday night (December 10).
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