On Sunday 4 December 2022, the second of four consecutive days of last-16 matches saw France (ranked #4) face Poland (ranked #26), and England (ranked #5) face Senegal (ranked #18), with the winners of both meeting in the third quarter-final.
In the first match, France (the holders) were up against Poland. In one way it was a face-off between top goals-scorers Mbappe for France and Lewandowski for Poland; but that would be a dis-service to the other players as they were all there on merit. Poland had only scored 2 goals in the group stages; but would France rue the missing Benzema, ruled out of the tournament due to injury even before a ball was kicked? France made 7 changes from the team that played in their last group game, a surprise 1-0 defeat to Tunisia, but they had rested many of their first team then, with the knock-out phase games in mind. Both teams started out nervously with a lot of scrappy play in midfield. On 8 minutes, France were stringing together a number of passes playing one-touch football, with first Griezmann and then Rabiot, also Dembélé having opportunities to put France ahead. On 16 minutes, Dembélé ran through the centre and got a shot on target; however, Szczesny in Poland’s goal, gathered comfortably. Giroud also had a shot on Poland’s goal. But the pressure was not all one-way; Poland did have opportunities and Lewandowski hit a screamer on 20 minutes. Poland’s midfield was gaining in confidence as they started to see more of the ball. Mbappe tore off up the left wing but Poland’s Cash was able to match him for pace and snuffed out the threat. France should have gone in front on 28 minutes when Dembélé crossed only for Giroud to send the ball wide of the far post. 3 minutes later, Tchouaméni conceded a free kick just outside France’s box. Just before half-time, France did take the lead when Giroud latched onto a through ball from Mbappe and slotted it inti the back of the net. 1-0 to France. 2 minutes of added time. HT 1-0 to France. No changes for either side at the start of the second half. On 52 minutes, at the end of a creative move, Rabiot cut back the ball across the box but nobody was on hand to connect with the ball. France seemed to be doing most of the attacking, keeping the pressure on Poland and tightening their grip on the game. 5 minutes later, Mbappe had a shot on goal but it was deflected wide for a corner. Giroud dud get the ball in the back of the net again, following a spectacular bicycle kick; however, the referee had already blown for a foul in the box. Poland tried to move up the field but were leaving gaps in defence which France tried to exploit. But Poland’s defence seemed to be a match for France’s attack. Mbappe tried a 1-2 in Poland’s box but his shot was well off target. On 65 minutes, Giroud flicked the ball on but it hit the side netting. By this stage, Poland had started making substitutions with Szymanski replaced by Milik, with France bringing on Fofana for Tchouaméni who had been booked. Almost immediately, Poland started to attack. Then Poland brought on Bielik and Zalewski for Krychowiak and Kaminski. On 74 minutes, though, Mbappe doubled France’s lead when receiving the ball from Dembélé in Poland’s box and blasting it into the back of the net. France then brought on Coman and Thuram for Giroud Dembélé. 10 minutes of normal time remaining. Poland, try as they could, were just not a match for France’s superior skill. Despite France’s extensive injury list, their strength in depth shone through, with Mbappe the brightest, making the difference. While this match was won, how far could they the go in the tournament? But was this to be their first game in the tournament in which they had not conceded? On 90 minutes, out of nowhere, Mbappe scored France’s third goal with a curled shot into the top right corner beyond the outstretched Szczesny in Poland’s goal. 5 added minutes announced. France brought on Disasi for Koundé. On 96 minutes, after a VAR consultation, the referee awarded a penalty to Poland for hand-ball on the box. Lewandowski took it but Lloris saved it! But the goalkeeper was adjudged to have moved early, so the penalty was retaken. This time he made no mistake. FT France 3, Poland 1.
Mbappe also became the tournament’s top scorer with 5 goals,
In the second match, England (runners-up at the 2020 European Championships last year) were up against Senegal, current African Cup champions. The two countries had never played each other before; this was to be their first time. England’s team announcement showed just one change from the starting eleven against Wales, with Saka starting ahead of Rashford; this was possibly as Raheem Sterling was not available for selection for personal reasons and manager Gareth Southgate has Rashford - who has 3 goals in the tournament to date - to call upon from the bench. Senegal, on the other hand, are African Cup champions and have a good track record in knock-out competition. They may be without star player Sadio Mané who was injured just before the tournament, but they have the most players in top European clubs compared to all other African countries. Senegal - whose supporters had created a carnival atmosphere inside the stadium - saw most of the early possession; on 4 minutes, Dia broke through but Stones and Maguire snuffed out the threat together. Bellingham won a free kick for England in midfield, but Henderson’s ball led to nothing. England started to see more possession but Senegal were pressing high. On 12 minutes, Kane ran onto a through ball down the left buy Saka could not connect with the cross into the box. By now, England were doing most of the pressing, with Senegal relying on the odd counter-attack. On 22 minutes, Dia had a shot in the box which was blocked by Stones with Sarr’s snap shot blasted over. England could breathe a sigh of relief. On 31 minutes, England’s goalkeeper made a great save with his left hand from Dia who had got through England’s defence for a moment. Up the other end, Kane played the ball down for Saka who could not get any power on his shot. On 35 minutes, Sarr got around England’s Walker on Senegal’s left wing, only for Walker to pull him down - he was lucky not to receive a yellow card. Senegal, however, could not take advantage with the free kick. But then Kane ran onto a through ball down the left, fed Bellingham who cut the ball square for Henderson to slot under Senegal’s goalkeeper, Mendy, with his left foot. 1-0 to England. 2 minutes later, Saka crossed to Kane who did not manage to connect cleanly. Saka again crossed the ball, threatening the Senegalese defence. Then Bellingham and Shaw combined on the left, winning a corner. England’s heads were up, sensing blood. Could they get a second before half-time? Another corner. 2 minutes added time announced. On 47 minutes, Harry Kane scored England’s second goal of the match (and his first iof the tournament) after Foden’s first touch on Bellingham’s through ball. HT 2-0 to England. After the break, Senegal made 3 substitutions, two midfielders and a striker, in an attempt to turn the game around. The second half started off as a cagey affair with Saka shooting wide on 54 minutes, with Kane shooting from outside the box a minute later; Mendy spilled the ball but there was nobody on hand to slot it home. A couple of minutes later, Foden squared the ball for Saka to slot home. 3-0 to England. Grealish and Rashford then came on for Saka and Foden with England looking ahead to the next game. The game started to become a bit scrappy with Senegal winning many of the loose balls. Dia then came off for Diédhiou as Senegal needed to create some spark in attack. Sarr’s free kick got round the 2-man wall but hit the side netting. On 75 minutes, Koulibaly was fouled for a tackle on Kane. Dier, Mount and Phillips then came on for Stones, Bellingham and Phillips. On 79 minutes, Kane could not stretch enough to get on the end of a cross from Rashford, but this was a rare England attack as the fizz had gone out of the match. The tackles were still flying in, though, as Grealish could testify. Sarr had a header for Senegal but the attempt was well over the bar. Sabaly was the next to shoot but it took a deflection and went out for a corner. 4 minutes of added time. FT England 3 - Senegal 0.
France will now face England in the third quarter-final on Saturday 10 December.
Meanwhile, today’s matches will see the third batch of last-16 games being played, with Japan against Croatia and Brazil against South Korea.
