France’s title defense will have to go through Poland in the round of 16 if it wants to become the first team since Brazil in 1958 and ’62 to win back-to-back World Cup titles.
By advancing to the round of 16, Les Bleus broke a curse of three straight reigning world champions that failed to make it out of the group stage at the following World Cup. After wins against Australia and Denmark, France played a second team in a loss to Tunisia in the final group match and still won the group.
Kylian Mbappé comes into the match tied atop the Golden Boot list with three goals.