France will start their World Cup last-16 clash as overwhelming favourites on Sunday but opponents Poland are well equipped to derail Les Bleus' title defence at the Al Thumama stadium.

France qualified for the knockout phase with a game to spare after two stylish performances against Australia and Denmark, and were quick to move on from a 1-0 defeat by Tunisia in the last Group D match after playing with a reserve side.

France will enter the contest with most of their top players having recharged their batteries, but patience, more than energy, might be key against Poland.

Poland coach Czeslaw Michniewicz brushed aside criticism of his team being too defensive at the World Cup, saying their cautious approach had helped them advance to the last 16, where they will look to beat world champions France on Sunday.

Poland have moved to the knockout stages for the first time in 36 years after conceding only two goals in three games, with Argentina scoring twice after Michniewicz's side kept clean sheets against Mexico and Saudi Arabia.

"The ones that weren't playing defensively at the World Cup are back home watching on TV. Now we're out of the group phase, so we will change our plans," Michniewicz said ahead of Sunday's game against France.

"You win or you go home, the stakes are high. We were dreaming of getting out of the group stage, we did everything possible to achieve that.

When?

09:00 pm, 4th December, Sunday

Where?

Al Thumama Stadium, Al Thumama, Qatar

Head-to-head

Matches 16

France 8

Poland 3

Draw 5

Probable lineups

France: (4-2-3-1) Lloris (GK), Kounde, Varane, Upamecano, T. Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe; Giroud

Poland: (4-4-2) Szczesny (GK), Cash, Glik, Kiwior, Bereszynski; Frankowski, Bielik, Krychowiak, Zielinski; Lewandowski, Milik

Key stats:

* France have become the first reigning World Cup champions to reach the knockout stages since Brazil in 2006.

* France are unbeaten in their last seven meetings with Poland across all competitions (W3 D4), with their last defeat against the Poles coming in a friendly in 1982 (0-4).

* Poland have progressed from a World Cup group stage for the first time since 1986, when they lost 0-4 to Brazil in the round of 16.

* Wojciech Szczesny has become just the third goalkeeper to save two penalties (excluding shootouts) in a World Cup after American Brad Friedel (2002) and his own compatriot Jan Tomaszewski (1974).

* Against Argentina (2-0) on matchday three, Poland conceded for the first time at the 2022 World Cup.

Previous meetings:

* Poland won the only previous World Cup clash between the sides, the third-place play-off match in the 1982 tournament (3-2). Their two last games which had anything at stake -- both Euro 1996 qualifiers -- ended in draws.