France manager Didier Deschamps insists there is more to Poland than Robert Lewandowski as both teams prepare to face each other in the 2022 World Cup last 16 on Sunday.
Barcelona striker Lewandowski is undoubtedly Poland's star man and chief threat, but in Wojciech Szczesny - who has already saved two penalties in Qatar - they have an elite-level goalkeeper, while the team's compact style can make them difficult to break down.
"They've had to defend a lot in the group stage and they defended very well. Actually they love it, but they're not just a defensive team - just look at who they have up front," Deschamps said
"But there's more. They have a backbone of players with great international experience, with Kamil Glik, Piotr Zieliński, Grzegorz Krychowiak and some youngsters who have shown they were up to the task. They deserve to be here."
France, led by the seemingly unstoppable Kylian Mbappe, will be strong favourites to progress to the quarter-finals but Poland manager Czeslaw Michniewicz has said his team fears no one - even suggesting that if Poland can shock World Cup holders France, they could go all the way.
"We were not ready to go home," said Michniewicz, who only took over the Poland job in January after the departure of Paulo Sousa. "If we win against France we could become the next world champions.
"We're very happy to play the world champions. France are not already guaranteed to advance. Everything's to play for, you win or go home and the stakes are high."
Ahead of the all-or-nothing encounter at Al Thumama Stadium, France and Poland players took to the pitches at Al Sadd SC Stadium and Al Kharaitiyat SC respectively for one final training session.
Check out the photos from those training sessions in the photo gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or swipe if using a mobile device.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
McIlroy's recent struggles
Last six stroke-play events (First round score in brackets)
Arnold Palmer Invitational Tied for 4th (74)
The US Masters Tied for 7th (72)
The Players Championship Tied for 35th (73)
US Open Missed the cut (78)
Travellers Championship Tied for 17th (67)
Irish Open Missed the cut (72)
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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The details: Visas are available for 247 Zambian kwacha or US$20 (Dh73) per person on arrival at Livingstone Airport. Single entry into Victoria Falls for international visitors costs 371 kwacha or $30 (Dh110). Microlight flights are available through Batoka Sky, with 15-minute flights costing 2,265 kwacha (Dh680).
Accommodation: The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Hotel by Anantara is an ideal place to stay, within walking distance of the falls and right on the Zambezi River. Rooms here start from 6,635 kwacha (Dh2,398) per night, including breakfast, taxes and Wi-Fi. Water arrivals cost from 587 kwacha (Dh212) per person.
