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Mbappe’s brace sends France into q-finals, Giroud breaks record

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DOHA: France beat Poland 3-1 in a record-smashing World Cup last-16 clash that saw Olivier Giroud become France’s outright all-time top scorer and Kylian Mbappe score a magnificen­t double.

France were relentless on the attack as they pushed for an opening goal but could not unlock a sturdy Poland until just before the break when Mbappe played a pin-point ball through to Giroud, who hammered it past a diving Wojciech Szczesny to claim his 52nd goal for Les Bleus.

Holders France continued to press after the break, with Giroud almost netting a second when he flicked Jules Kounde’s cross just past the near post.

But Mbappe did not miss in the 74th minute, unleashing a missile from just inside the penalty area that shot into the top corner.

Mbappe was not done, adding a second goal in stoppage time with another screamer to seal the win and take his total for the tournament to five.

Poland got a consolatio­n goal from a Robert Lewandowsk­i penalty. — Reuters

 ?? — AP ?? Simply sensationa­l: France’s Kylian Mbappe celebratin­g after scoring his side’s second goal.
— AP Simply sensationa­l: France’s Kylian Mbappe celebratin­g after scoring his side’s second goal.

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