FIFA World Cup holders France take on Poland in the Round of 16 at Qatar 2022.
365Scores looks at some factors relevant to this showdown between the two European nations:
– Looking Back
The two nations are due to go head-to-head for a 17th time, but only the second at the World Cup. These teams contested the third place play-off in Spain 1982, which saw the Polish emerge 3-2 winners.
The nations last shared a pitch in 2011 and this will be a first exchange on the international stage for this particular group of players.
France are at the World Cup finals for a 16th time and it is the 10th occasion they have progressed to the knockouts. On the other hand, none of Poland’s current 26-man squad had been born when their country last qualified for the Round of 16 in 1986.
A first knockout stage appearance since 1986 awaits 🇵🇱 #FIFAWorldCup #Qatar2022
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 4, 2022
– How did the Teams fare in the group stage?
France were the first team to advance to the last-16 after they won their opening two games against Australia and Denmark. Les Bleus dodged the infamous holders’ curse which saw each of the previous three World Cup winners falter at the group stages of the subsequent tournament.
France ended with six points, level with Australia, and advanced as group winners with a superior goal difference to the Socceroos. Poland could not keep at bay an Argentina outfit spearheaded by Lionel Messi, though they did come away with a 2-0 victory over Saudi Arabia.
Poland were underwhelming during the group phase, specifically in attack, as they scored two goals and fashioned just five shots on goal across their three games in Group C.
Of all 32 teams at Qatar 2022, the Polish have the joint-worst shots on target per game (1,7) together with Canada. In comparison, France average 5,7 shots on target per game.
– Squad Insights
The French have endured major troubles on the injury front with N’Golo Kanté, Paul Pogba, Christopher Nkunku, Presnel Kimpembe, and Mike Maignan all deemed unavailable to compete at Qatar 2022.
Lucas Hernández ruptured his ACL against Australia, while France manager Didier Deschamps has refused to confirm or deny whether Karim Benzema will be involved in the latter stages of the tournament.
Benzema, 34, is recovering from a thigh problem and if France exit the tournament before he is ready to take to the pitch then it will be the first time since 1978 that the Ballon d’Or holder doesn’t feature at the World Cup finals.
Despite Benzema’s absence, France still have loads of firing power in Kylian Mbappé, Olivier Giroud, Ousmane Dembele, and Antoine Griezmann, all of whom started from the bench in the defeat to Tunisia.
Karim Benzema could make a stunning return to France’s World Cup squad 🇫🇷
— GOAL News (@GoalNews) November 28, 2022
With the French severely injury-stricken, Mbappé has stepped up to the plate with three goals in as many games. Mbappé was the starboy of the tournament at Russia 2018 but now the 23-year-old is of utmost importance to Les Bleus.
Robert Lewandowski has scored one goal in 270 minutes at Qatar 2022, a far cry of his goal returns for Barcelona this season. The 34-year-old attacker also missed a penalty in the 0-0 draw with Mexico.
At the other end of the pitch goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has kept out two penalty kicks (including one from Messi) which puts him and Poland in good stead, especially if this last-16 encounter is decided in a penalty shoot-out.
– Betting Odds
France are 1.33 favourites to come out on top in regular time and seal their spot in the quarter-finals. Poland are priced 9.00 to cause an upset on the world champions. Odds of 5.25 for a draw after 90 minutes.
Mbappé is 4.00 to open the scoring, or 2.05 to score anytime versus Poland. Giroud is 5.00 for first scorer, or 2.40 anytime.
(Bet365)
