One of the leading favourites coming into the tournament, France have four points from two matches in Group D but have only scored one goal, and that was courtesy of Austrian defender Maximilian Woeber putting through his own net.
The new Real Madrid signing played no part against the Dutch as he recovers from the broken nose he suffered in a collision late on against Austria.
He will need to wear a protective mask over his nose when he returns to action but he trained on Sunday at the French team’s base in Paderborn and his teammates are optimistic of having their captain back against the Poles.
It was Mbappe whose cross was headed in by Woeber for France’s only goal so far at the Euros and he is by a long way the biggest attacking threat available to coach Didier Deschamps.
Marcus Thuram led the line against the Dutch, but he has scored only twice in 22 appearances for his country.
Antoine Griezmann has only netted twice in his last 30 caps, while Ousmane Dembele’s only goal for France in the last three years came against Gibraltar.
Kingsley Coman is still building up his fitness after missing the end of the season with Bayern Munich due to injury, and Randal Kolo Muani is coming off a difficult campaign in Mbappe’s shadow at Paris Saint-Germain. That defensive solidity is important and could take them a long way, even if the goals do not flow at the other end.
The centre-back pairing of Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba have impressed in front of goalkeeper Mike Maignan, while N’Golo Kante has been outstanding in midfield on his return to the international stage after two years out of the picture.
France just needs a draw to be certain of reaching the last 16 against a Poland team who have already been eliminated after two defeats in their first two outings.