Hugo Lloris was named in France’s playing 11 against Poland in their FIFA World Cup 2022 round of 16 tie on Sunday. With the appearance, the goalkeeper-captain equaled Lilian Thuram as the country’s most-capped player and Thierry Henry and Fabien Barthez in terms of World Cup games.
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The Poland game is Lloris’ 142nd French cap.
France, led by Kylian Mbappe’s goal-scoring brilliance, topped Group D with six points. Australia, who were knocked out in the round of 16, came second with as many. The 2018 winners broke the ‘champions curse’ by becoming the first team to make it to the knockouts.
European countries winning the FIFA World Cup failed to make it through beyond the group stages in the next edition for 14 years.
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Lloris has conceded three goals in France’s World Cup 2022 campaign so far. Ahead of the round of 16 game against Poland, the 35-year-old said he is ‘honoured and very proud’ to equal Thuram’s record.
“It is no small achievement. I am really honoured at the figures and very proud, even if it is very much secondary to the fact that we are on the eve of the last 16 of the World Cup,” the France captain told reporters.
French striker Olivier Giroud paid tribute to Hugo Lloris ahead of France’s round of 16 clash against Poland.
“Lloris’s hard work and professionalism have brought you where you are today and you deserve it, so savour these moments and hope that more is yet to come,” The 36-year old told Téléfoot.
Giroud is one short of becoming France’s all-time goal-scorer.
France (4-2-3-1) Lloris; Kounde, Varane, Upamecano, T Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe; Giroud.
Substitutes: Mandanda, Areola, Pavard, Disasi, Guendouzi, Kolo Muani, Fofana, Veretout, Saliba, Coman, Konate, Camavinga, Thuram.
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Poland (possible 5-2-2-1) Szczesny; Cash, Bereszynski, Kiwior, Glik, Frankowski; S Szymanski, Krychowiak; Zielinski, Kaminski; Lewandowski.
Substitutes: Skorupski, Grabara, Jedrzejczyk, Wieteska, Bednarek, Bielik, Milik, D Szymanski, Grosicki, Swiderski, Zurkowski, Zalewski, Piatek, Gumny, Skoras.
