OLIVIER GIROUD

But this is a France team that is one of the deepest international teams in recent memory. The 2022 World Cup was set to be Benzema’s first since 2014. As Mbappe became one of the best young forwards in the game, Giroud was the man he teamed with on the international level. “There’s a very good complicity between them,” France assistant coach Guy Stephan said earlier in the World Cup. He then added another in the second half with his head to tie Thierry Henry for the most men’s national team goals ever.

It will be Argentina versus France, Lionel Messi versus Kylian Mbappé, after the French held off Morocco on Wednesday. It will be a dream final in a futuristic from-scratch city at a cavernous stadium rising out of the desert. “Messi has been in scintillating form since the beginning of the tournament,” Deschamps said. We want to win this game, we want to win another World Cup. “Both teams are playing a better team than they've played so far in the tournament,” Deschamps said.

England's World Cup fate was effectively sealed from the penalty spot as Harry Kane’s late strike flew high over the bar at Al Bayt Stadium.

France is seeking to pump the brakes on repeat talk, but there is a quiet confidence brewing. And it's beginning to percolate at the perfect time.

The "World Cup Now" crew breaks down France's win vs. England and shares some of the biggest takeaways from Saturday's match.

France becomes the first defending World Cup champion to reach the semifinal round since Brazil 1998. France has now earned a spot in the final four seven times.

France will next face Morocco in the semifinals on Wednesday.

AL KHOR, Qatar — (AP) — Kylian Mbappe and France made it back to the semifinals of the World Cup on Saturday by beating England 2-1. Olivier Giroud scored in the 78th minute at Al Bayt Stadium to keep France on course to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups. England striker Harry Kane had a chance to even the score late in the match but he sent a penalty attempt over the bar. The Moroccans became the first African team to reach the semifinals at the World Cup by beating Portugal 1-0. ___James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson___AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

France’s attempt to win back-to-back World Cups is still on after a 2-1 win over England in the quarterfinals on Saturday. Olivier Giroud put France ahead in the 78th minute when he headed the ball off Harry Maguire’s shoulder and into the back of the net. England had a chance to tie just a few minutes later after Theo Hernandez bowled over Mason Mount in the penalty box. After a video review, the referee was summoned to the monitor and granted the obvious penalty kick. France then saw out the final 13 minutes of the game as England pressed forward for the tie.

DOHA, Qatar — (AP) — Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are not ready to say goodbye to the World Cup just yet. But life — and sport — moves on and the World Cup is the perfect stage for a new breed of would-be superstars to showcase their talent. “He’s made progress since joining Real Madrid and has been showing that at the World Cup,” said Real Madrid clubmate Luka Modric. And who would put it past either one of them to add one more winning chapter to their story at this World Cup? ___James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson___AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

DOHA, Qatar — (AP) — Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are not ready to say goodbye to the World Cup just yet. But life — and sport — moves on and the World Cup is the perfect stage for a new breed of would-be superstars to showcase their talent. He has the trophy Messi and Ronaldo crave — and in a week or so, could have two of them. And who would put it past either one of them to add one more winning chapter to their story at this World Cup? ___James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson___AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

Because he plays alongside Mbappé, soccer's soon-to-be king, who has ascended toward the World Cup's throne at warp speed. Around the time he turned 20, when he’d already summited France’s Ligue 1 and the World Cup, Mbappé replaced those posters with Kylian Mbappé posters. And Mbappe, in return, has given them more than two goals plus assists per 90 minutes at this World Cup, an absurd production rate. And if Mbappé beats the Brits, he can surely begin making more room in his trophy case alongside his World Cup Young Player Award from 2018. “The only objective for me is to win the World Cup.”

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are not ready to say goodbye to the World Cup just yet.

Les Bleus won it all four years ago in Russia and look like they could raise another trophy in exactly two weeks.

France and England saw little resistance in their round of 16 matchups — now they'll meet in the quarterfinals. Here's everything that happened in the World Cup on Sunday and what to watch Monday.

Kylian Mbappé doesn't need another World Cup to cement his status as one of the tournament's all-time greats, but he might just do it anyway.

Kylian Mbappé looks like the Golden Ball winner so far and other takeaways from a comfortable France win.

France defeated Poland in the Round of 16 in the World Cup on Sunday as they inch closer to winning a second consecutive title. Olivier Giroud and Kylian Mbappe scored.

DOHA, Qatar — (AP) — Kylian Mbappé scored two goals and set up another for Olivier Giroud, giving France a 3-1 victory over Poland and a spot in the World Cup quarterfinals on Sunday. Robert Lewandowski scored from the penalty spot in second-half stoppage time for Poland. No country has repeated as World Cup champions in six decades — since Brazil achieved the feat by claiming consecutive trophies in 1958 and 1962. Mbappé scored his first in the 74th minute when he was left unmarked to blast in a long-range shot following a counterattack. ___Andrew Dampf is at https://twitter.com/AndrewDampf___AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

Writers covering the World Cup for The Associated Press have chosen their standout players at the tournament so far to form a best team of the group stage.

The New York Yankees are becoming a minority investor in Italian champion AC Milan, the second soccer team the baseball power will partially own after MLS’s New York City.

The fans — 2,000 from West Ham, 2,000 from Chelsea — had contrasting experiences on opposite sides of London. Chelsea’s players treated their select group of attending fans to a comeback of their own at Stamford Bridge. The match saw respective managers Frank Lampard, of Chelsea, and Marcelo Bielsa, of Leeds, meet for the first time in the Premier League. Meanwhile, Guardiola didn’t make a single substitution, at a time when he is pushing the Premier League to increase the number of replacements from three to five for player-welfare reasons. It’s now 11 goals in 11 games for the Everton striker after scoring the equalizer in a 1-1 draw at Burnley.

(Catherine Ivill/Pool via AP)LONDON Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang clinched a record-extending 14th FA Cup for Arsenal on Saturday, scoring twice in a 2-1 victory against Chelsea at an empty Wembley Stadium. It not only sealed Arsenal's fourth FA Cup in seven seasons but a place in the Europa League, having only finished eighth in the Premier League. There could not even be a trophy presentation as usual in the Royal Box due to social distancing after this 139th FA Cup final. Never before had the FA Cup final been staged without fans. The American emulated compatriot Carli Lloyd, who netted in the Women's FA Cup final in 2017 for Manchester City.

Liverpool's Georginio Wijnaldum, right turns and celebrates after scoring his sides 3rd goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, July 22, 2020. As the fans shut out of the stadium lit the sky with pyrotechnics, Liverpool and Chelsea provided their own explosive moments in an eight-goal thriller. A 5-3 victory before receiving the Premier League trophy was an entertaining way for Liverpool to sign off from Anfield for the season on Wednesday with eight different scorers. Just like four weeks ago, when Chelsea's victory over Manchester City clinched the trophy for Liverpool, fans couldn't resist gathering outside Anfield. With cordite filling the air from the pyrotechnics set off by Liverpool fans, it was Chelsea celebrating again.

Manchester United's Eric Bailly receives treatment after a clash of heads during the English FA Cup semifinal soccer match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium in London, England, Sunday, July 19, 2020. (Andy Rain, Pool via AP)LONDON Manchester United defender Eric Bailly was wheeled off on a stretcher and wearing an oxygen mask after a second clash of heads during Sunday's FA Cup semifinal against Chelsea. Bailly had returned to action after an aerial collision with Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma. But during a lengthy stoppage, Bailly staggered on the touchline before being placed on a stretcher and wheeled off the Wembley touchline on a stretcher by medical staff wearing protective clothing as part of coronavirus prevention measures. There was applause from the few people inside Wembley, where fans are locked out due to the pandemic.

(Andy Rain, Pool via AP)LONDON At least David De Gea was spared having a crowd inside Wembley to witness his latest mistakes in the Manchester United goal. Gifted goals to beat United 3-1 on Sunday, Chelsea will be returning to the national stadium on Aug. 1 to face Arsenal in an all-London FA Cup final. Olivier Giroud's close-range deft touch from Cesar Azpilicueta's cross was pushed into his own goal by De Gea. De Gea hadnt played in the competition since the 2018 final when Chelsea beat United. It means Frank Lampard's first season as Chelsea manager will end with a cup final.

Manchester United's Mason Greenwood celebrates after scoring a goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Bournemouth at Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday, July 4, 2020. (Peter Powell/Pool via AP)Some of the top Premier League teams are putting their faith in youth in the high-stakes finale to the longest-ever soccer season in England. Jamie Vardy passed the 100-goal mark in Premier League goals by netting twice as Leicester beat Crystal Palace 3-0 for its first win since the restart. With five more rounds left, Leicester stayed a point clear of Chelsea and three points ahead of fifth-place Manchester United. Finishing in sixth will earn the team a berth in the Europa League next season, as may seventh.

Everton's Seamus Coleman, left, challenges Liverpool's Sadio Mane during the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park in Liverpool, England, Sunday, June 21, 2020. Liverpool can become champions with a win if Burnley does not lose at second-place defending champion Manchester City on Monday. Liverpool lost to Watford in the penultimate Premier League match before the unexpected break in the league. Well try to improve every time.That has been the message since the week before the football shutdown in March when Liverpool was also knocked out of the Champions League and FA Cup. A 3-0 win over 10-man Sheffield United lifted Newcastle 11 points clear of the relegation zone with eight games remaining.

Chelsea's Christian Pulisic celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Chelsea at the Villa Park stadium in Birmingham, England, Sunday, June 21, 2020. (Molly Darlington/Pool via AP)BIRMINGHAM Healthy enough to make his first appearance in nearly six months, Christian Pulisic sparked Chelsea to a comeback victory. Olivier Giroud put Chelsea ahead two minutes later in a 2-1 win over Aston Villa 2-1 on Sunday that strengthened the Blues' hold on fourth place in the Premier League. Giroud scored for the sixth straight league game against Villa. Unfortunately a little bit of quality and fortune favored them," Villa manager Dean Smith said of Chelsea.

A Twitter account claiming to belong to an anonymous gay footballer has been deleted, a day before the user was due to reveal his identity. (CNN) - A Twitter account claiming to belong to an anonymous gay footballer has been deleted, a day before the user was due to reveal his identity. In his first tweet, the user @footballergay claimed he was a professional footballer "hoping to break the mould" and would "reveal his identity soon." Compared with other areas of society, men's professional soccer is lacking in openly gay players. During this year's Women's World Cup, Gay Star News reported that there were "41 openly gay or bisexual women in the World Cup in France this year."