One of the World Cup favourites, France, face fellow European side Poland in the last 16 at the Al Thumama Stadium on Sunday.

After sealing progression after two matches, France rested many of their regulars in a defeat to Tunisia on Wednesday while Poland narrowly edged out Mexico on goal difference to finish second in Group C.

With these two sides both playing in the same confederation, past meetings have been more frequent than some other matchups at this World Cup.

It will be a sixth competitive fixture between the two nations, but just a second at a World Cup.

Their first, and up to now only meeting on this stage, saw Poland beat France in the third-place playoff of the 1982 World Cup, a historical run for the Polish side who were playing under a cloud of political turmoil back at home.

Legendary duo Zbigniew Boniek and Grzegorz Lato featured for Poland that day, while Marius Tresor and Jean Tigana ran out for France, as Michel Platini sat the game out.

Some of the superstars who will expect to be involved in the 2022 edition are Kylian Mbappe and Robert Lewandowski, and the latter featured for Poland the last time these two nations met.

At just 22, Lewandowski was still in his international infancy and had only just made the first team at Borussia Dortmund, and he was unable to make an influence in his country's friendly with the French in 2011, as a Tomasz Jodlowiec own goal saw them lose 1-0.

Their other four competitive meetings all came in European Championship qualification, with France doing the double over Poland in Euro 68 qualifying, and sharing the spoils twice when paired together for the Euro 96 qualifiers.

Overall, the sides have met 16 times, but Poland have not won since beating Les Bleus 4-0 in a friendly just a month after beating them at the 1982 World Cup.

FRANCE VS. POLAND HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD

France wins: 8
Poland wins: 3
Draws: 5
France goals: 27
Poland goals: 16

MATCH HISTORY

Jan 22, 1939: France 4-0 Poland (International Friendly)
Sep 28, 1960: Poland 2-2 France (International Friendly)
Apr 11, 1962: France 1-3 Poland (International Friendly)
Oct 22, 1966: France 2-1 Poland (European Championship Qualifier)
Sep 17, 1967: Poland 1-4 France (European Championship Qualifier)
Sep 07, 1974: Poland 0-2 France (International Friendly)
Apr 24, 1976: France 2-0 Poland (International Friendly)
Jul 10, 1982: Poland 3-2 France (World Cup third-place playoff)
Aug 31, 1982: France 0-4 Poland (International Friendly)
Aug 15, 1990: France 0-0 Poland (International Friendly)
Aug 14, 1991: Poland 1-5 France (International Friendly)
Nov 16, 1994: Poland 0-0 France (European Championship Qualifier)
Aug 16, 1995: France 1-1 Poland (European Championship Qualifier)
Feb 23, 2000: France 1-0 Poland (International Friendly)
Nov 17, 2004: France 0-0 Poland (International Friendly)
Jun 09, 2011: Poland 0-1 France (International Friendly)

Written by
Andrew Delaney