📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday 15 at the World Cup | OneFootball

📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday 15 at the World Cup | OneFootball

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OneFootball

Thomas Stockting·5 December 2022

📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday 15 at the World Cup

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday 15 at the World Cup

The knockout rounds continued on Sunday as defending World Cup champions France and England booked their places in the quarter-finals.

Here is the story from matchday 15 at the World Cup.


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We got the day started with two of world football’s most lethal strikers facing off with each other as Kylian Mbappé’s France faced Robert Lewandowski and Poland.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday 15 at the World Cup

Olivier Giroud, who had already equalled Thiery Henry as France’s all-time top scorer, started putting some daylight between him and the Arsenal legend as the 36-year-old gave his side the lead.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday 15 at the World Cup

…and was quick to thank Mbappé for the assist.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday 15 at the World Cup

Les Blues and PSG superstar, Mbappé wasn’t about to let Giroud steal the limelight though, as two stunning goals secured France’s sport in the quarter-finals.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday 15 at the World Cup
Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday 15 at the World Cup

Lewandowski bowed out of what may very well be his last World Cup with a goal, although it took two bites at the cherry with a retaken penalty.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday 15 at the World Cup
Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday 15 at the World Cup

But it was France’s day as the defending champions look more capable of pulling off a famous double with each passing game.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday 15 at the World Cup

In the second game of the day, it was a feline affair as the Three Lions faced Les Lions de la Téranga.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday 15 at the World Cup
Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday 15 at the World Cup

England controlled the early exchanges best the best chances fell to Senegal as Ismaïla Sarr somehow fired over the bar.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday 15 at the World Cup

Before Jordan Pickford was called upon to make a huge stop.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday 15 at the World Cup

The breakthrough came for Gareth Southgate’s team as Jude Bellingham put the ball on a plate for Jordan Henderson.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday 15 at the World Cup

Bellingham was at the heart of things again as, on the stroke of half-time, Harry Kane finally scored a goal the Qatar World Cup.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday 15 at the World Cup

…much to the delight of fans at BOXPARK.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday 15 at the World Cup

Bukayo Saka, chosen ahead of Marcus Rashford, repaid the faith by scoring England’s third on the night.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday 15 at the World Cup

Setting up a mouth-watering quarter-final between England and France.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday 15 at the World Cup

You can read how the second day of the knockout rounds played out here.