Defending champions France begin their journey through the knockout rounds when they meet Poland in the round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup on Sunday.
STREAM FRANCE vs POLAND LIVE
Only twice in World Championship history has a defending champion defended his title and gone back-to-back. Italy did it in 1934 and 1938; Brazil did it in 1958 and 1962. 60 years later, Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud and captain Hugo Lloris hope to join these legendary sides for the rest of the time.
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Here’s everything you need for France vs Poland.
How to watch France vs Poland live, stream link and start time
kicking off: 10 a.m. ET, Sunday (December 4)
Stadion: Al-Thumama Stadium, Doha
TV channels in Espaรฑol: Telemundo
Streaming in Spanish: peacock (all 64 games)
Shortly after France caused problems with Giroud and Griezmann in the penalty area, Poland quickly break out and Robert Lewandowski fires a shot from distance just wide of the target. #FRA 0-0 #POLE
โ Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) December 4, 2022
Major storylines, players to watch closely
For France, the group stage was a bit mixed in terms of results, but the quality of performances was undeniable. Les Bleus defeated Australia, eventual runners-up in Group D, 4-1 in their opening game, followed by a 2-1 win over Denmark in Game No. 2 and a surprise 1-0 defeat by Tunisia, with next to nothing in the final was to play. After Karim Benzema lost training through injury just two weeks ago, Mbappe (3 goals, 1 assist) and Griezmann (1 assist) shouldered the last group stage alongside N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba, who were out well before the start of the tournament. Midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, 22, was the only player to start all three group games, while Didier Deschamps gives the Real Madrid star a crash course in World Cup football.
La ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป de dรฉpart pour ce ๐ญ/๐ด ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐น๐ฒ de Coupe du Monde ๐ฅ
Coup d’envoi 16h00 on TF1 ๐บ
๐ซ๐ท๐ต๐ฑ #FRAPOL | #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/jUvKfKNOo7
โ Equipe de France โญโญ (@equipedefrance) December 4, 2022
Despite Robert Lewandowski, one of the best strikers of his generation, Poland only scored twice in the group stage – both in the same game, their only win, against Saudi Arabia. On the other hand, that two clean sheets (against Mexico) proved the difference between elimination and progression. Poland are one of four teams (Australia, Morocco and Japan are the others) to have had less than 40 percent possession and makes it to the knockout stages.
โ ๏ธSKลAD
Tak zagramy z Francjฤ w 1/8 final misrzostw ลwiata! ๐
_________#FRAPOL ๐ซ๐ท๐ต๐ฑ #KierunekQatar pic.twitter.com/uJ7YtxdQvWโ ลฤ czy nas piลka (@LaczyNasPilka) December 4, 2022
France quick facts
Current FIFA World Ranking: 4th
World titles: 2 (1998, 2018)
World Cup participations: 15
How they qualified: Qualified automatically by UEFA (Won Group D)
Trainer: Didier Deschamps
Key players: Kylian Mbappe, Hugo Lloris, Antoine Griezmann
Poland quick facts
Current FIFA World Ranking: 38
World title: 0
World Cup participations: 5
How They Qualified: Qualified by AFC via the Intercontinental Playoffs
Coach: Graham Arnold
Key Players: Mathew Ryan, Aaron Mooy, Mathew Leckie
