Reigning champions France begin their 2022 FIFA World Cup knockout stage challenge against Poland at Al Thumama Stadium.
Les Bleus led their group despite a much-changed side losing their last game against Tunisia, with previous victories over Australia and Denmark being enough to see them progress.
Poland’s progression was a bit more complicated: Robert Lewandowski helped them beat Saudi Arabia after a draw against Mexico, but a poor performance against Argentina saw them lose 2-0 on Matchday 3 and they only reached the last 16 on due better goal difference than Mexico A 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia was not enough to secure second place in Group C.
The Sporting News is following live scoring updates and highlights for France v Poland at the 2022 World Cup. Follow for full round of 16 results in Qatar.
MORE: France vs Poland betting odds, predictions and best bets
France vs Poland last result
| 1H | 2H | final | |
| France | — | — | — |
| Poland | — | — | — |
Goals:
none
Confirmed Lineups:
Lineup France (4-3-3, right to left): 1 Lloris (GK) — 5 Kounde, 4 Varane, 18 Upamecano, 22 T. Hernandez — 7 Griezmann, 8 Tchouameni, 14 Rabiot — 11 Dembele, 9 Giroud, 10 Mbappe
Expected line-up for Poland (3-4-2-1, right to left): 1 Szczesny (GK) — 2 Cash, 15 Glik, 14 Kiwior, 18 Bereszynski — 20 Zielinski, 19 Szymanski, 10 Krychowiak, 24 Frankowski — 13 Kaminski, 9 Lewandowski
MORE: Watch every World Cup game live with fuboTV (free trial only in US)
France vs. Poland live updates, World Cup 2022 highlights
20 minutes to go: It’s a great day for Hugo Lloris too.
142 – Hugo Lloris will today join Lilian Thuram as the most capped player in France national team history (142nd cap).
He is also tied with Thierry Henry and Fabien Barthez for Les Bleus’ combined most World Cup appearances (17). Rock. #FRAPOL https://t.co/lj6QwgzEAn
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) December 4, 2022
25 minutes to kick-off: Ominously for Poland, every time France have reached the last 16 since its inception in 1986, they have reached the quarter-finals. Poland last got this far in 1986 when Brazil beat them 4-0.
35 minutes to kick-off: Which of these two will come out on top today?
Most goals + assists in Europe’s top five leagues since 2021/22:
◉ 59 – Kylian Mbappe
◉ 55 – Robert LewandowskiThe quarterfinals are not big enough for the two. 🤠@Center | #FIFA World Cup pic.twitter.com/xGTfIPUAhI
— Squawka (@Squawka) December 4, 2022
45 minutes to kick-off: It’s France back in full force, but the Polish line-up looks decent.
1 hour to kick-off: France make nine substitutions with only Varane and Tchouameni surviving. Poland brings Glik, Szymanski and Kaminski.
La 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 de départ pour ce 𝟭/𝟴 𝗱𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗲 de Coupe du Monde 🔥
Coup d’envoi 16h00 on TF1 📺
🇫🇷🇵🇱 #FRAPOL | #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/jUvKfKNOo7
— Equipe de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) December 4, 2022
1:25 after kick-off: Going above and beyond to see your team at the World Cup
These guys cycled from France to experience something #Qatar2022 🤯 🚲
Get the full story on #FIFAWorldCupDaily by Hisense – Free on FIFA+
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 4, 2022
2 hours after kick-off: The stage is set up at Al Thumama Stadium
The dressing room is ready for today’s round of 16 👌
Now we are just waiting for Les Bleus 🤩#FRAPOL | #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/vQAjNMM19d
— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) December 4, 2022
2 hrs 20 mins from kick-off: Wojciech Szczesny was GIGANTIC for Poland in group stage… will he be the hero against France?
FIRST HALF SAVE: 8
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: 17th
Penalty throws: 2Wojciech Szczesny single-handedly keeps Poland’s World Cup dream alive 🔥 pic.twitter.com/cYb7dJNKa2
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 30, 2022
3 hours after kick-off: Mbappe with the TOUCCCCCCCCCCHHHHHH in training before the Poland showdown
Kylian Mbappe pulls out the chic things in training 😅 #FIFA World Cup pic.twitter.com/GBXPXy3nlL
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 4, 2022
3 hrs 45 mins from kick-off: Raphael Varane wants France to be ruthless in front of goal against Poland and secure their place in the quarter-finals
💬 “𝘞𝘦’𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭.”
We hear from Raphaël Varane ahead of today’s round of 16 match against Poland 🇵🇱#FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/MuojZ3FmDN
— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) December 4, 2022
4 hrs 15 mins from kick-off: First round of 16 appearance for Poland in 36 years – but can they surprise at Al Thumama?
A first knockout appearance since 1986 is waiting 🇵🇱 #FIFA World Cup #Qatar2022
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 4, 2022
4 hrs 45 mins from kick-off: Didier Deschamps has of course been here before. World champion in 1998 as a player and 20 years later as a coach, he knows better than most how to master the knockout rounds.
Didier Deschamps also talks about Poland and thanks the French fans for their support! 💙#FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/dQrVYPbtHF
— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) December 2, 2022
5 hours after kick-off: Welcome to The Sporting News’ live coverage of this round of 16 clash between France and Poland. There might have been a slip against Tunisia, but the French looked good in Qatar. In fact, they looked very good at times. Can Poland pull off an improved performance today and knock out the champions in the round of 16? We’ll find out soon enough!
4 – They lost a match at a World Cup before lifting the trophy:
🇬🇧 West Germany 1954
🇬🇧 West Germany 1974
🇦🇷 Argentina in 1978
🇪🇸 Spain in 2010Again? pic.twitter.com/qTdQDuZjfH
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) December 3, 2022
France vs Poland lineups, team news
Injuries have plagued France in the run-up to the tournament so it was no surprise that head coach Didier Deschamps made nine changes to his starting XI against Tunisia to avoid further losses.
Expect Deschamps to field a full-strength squad again for the knockout season, with players like the captain Hugo Lloris and striker Kylian Mbappe and Anton Griezmann restored.
Theo Hernandez will probably play like him at left-back against Denmark after his brother, Luketore the ACL in his right knee against Australia.
Estimated formation of France (4-3-3, from right to left): 1 Lloris (GK) — 2 Pavard, 4 Varane, 18 Upamecano, 22 T Hernandez — 7 Griezmann, 8 Tchouameni, 14 Rabiot — 11 Dembele, 9 Giroud, 10 Mbappe
Poland head coach Czeslaw Michniewicz could opt for a more conservative line-up after seeing his counter-attackers clearly beaten by Argentina.
Feyenoords Sebastian Szymanki and Wolfsburg Jacob Kaminskiwho might have been a reinforcement option at the back, both started on the bench.
Expected line-up for Poland (4-4-2, right to left): 1 Szczesny (GK) — 2 Cash, 15 Glik, 14 Kiwior, 18 Bereszynski — 20 Zielinski, 6 Bielik, 10 Krychowiak, 24 Frankowski — 16 Swiderski, 9 Lewandowski
France vs Poland Live Stream, TV Channels
This round of 16 game will be played at the Al Thumama Stadium, which has a capacity of 44,400. Referee is Jesus Valenzuela from Venezuela.
So you can follow all the action in some of the most important global territories.
| date | time | TV channel | stream | |
| United States of America | Sun, December 4th | 10:00 a.m. ET | FS1, Telemundo |
fuboTV, Fox Sports website/app, Telemundo Deportes site/app, peacock |
| Canada | Sun, December 4th | 10:00 a.m. ET | TSN 3/4, CTV, RDS (French) | TSN Site/App, CTV App, RDS app |
| United Kingdom | Sun, December 4th | 15:00 GMT | ITV, STV | ITVX, STV Player |
| Australia | Mon, December 5th | 02:00 AEDT | SBS | SBS on call |
| India | Sun, December 4th | 20:30 IST | sports18 | Voot, JioTV |
| Hong Kong | Sun, December 4th | 23:00 CET | Now TV (chap. 616, 618) | TV now |
| Malaysia | Sun, December 4th | 23:00 CET | Astro FIFA World Cup 1 | AstroGO |
| Singapore | Sun, December 4th | 23:00 CEST | StarHub FIFA World Cup, Single FIFA World Cup 141 |
SingleTV GO, CAST, StarHub TV+, MeWatch |
| New Zealand | Mon, December 5th | 04:00 NZDT | Sky Sport 7 beIN Sports | Sky Go, Sky Sports NOW |
