France pulls away from Poland in 2nd half to clinch World Cup quarter-final berth

Kylian Mbappe scored two goals and set up another for Olivier Giroud, giving France a 3-1 victory over Poland and a spot in the World Cup quarter-finals on Sunday in Doha, Qatar.

The Paris Saint-German forward now has a tournament-leading five goals and the 2018 champions are within three wins of defending their title.

Robert Lewandowski scored from the penalty spot in second-half stoppage time for Poland.

No country has repeated as World Cup champions in six decades — since Brazil achieved the feat by claiming consecutive trophies in 1958 and 1962. Italy is the only other nation to have won two straight, in 1934 and 1938.

France's quarter-final opponent will be either England or Senegal.

Mbappe scored his first in the 74th minute when he was left unmarked to blast in a long-range shot following a counterattack. He added another in stoppage time when Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szcz─Ösny could only get a weak glove on another powerful shot from the man in the No. 10.

Having also provided two assists, Mbappe has easily been the most productive player in Qatar.

Mbappe celebrated his second goal by waving his arms for the crowd to cheer louder. Then he hoisted himself up onto the crossbar shortly after the final whistle in another celebratory gesture in front of France's fans.

The French team took the lead when Mbappe threaded a pass to Giroud and the AC Milan striker quickly slotted the ball into the far corner. It was Giroud's 52nd career international goal — breaking a tie with Thierry Henry on France's all-time scoring list.

After Mbappe leaped into Giroud's arms to celebrate, pumping his fists, Giroud held up seven fingers to the cameras — five on one hand and two on the other for "52."

It's all the more sweet for