It's all the more sweet for Giroud because he wasn't even supposed to be a starter on this year's squad until Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema was ruled out because of injury. Giroud also scored two goals in France's opening 4-1 win over Australia.
France, however, wasn't so sure to go this far when several other top players were ruled out shortly before the tournament because of physical issues, including midfielders Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kante, central defender Presnel Kimpembe, left back Lucas Hernandez, and forward Christopher Nkunku are also out.
On a record-setting night for France, goalkeeper Hugo Lloris matched the national team mark of 142 appearances held by Lilian Thuram.
The previous defending champion to reach the quarterfinals was Brazil in 2006 - when France beat the South Americans before eventually losing in the final to Italy in a penalty shootout.
With two European teams playing, there weren't all that many supporters of either country inside Al Thumama Stadium except for small pockets of France fans beating drums behind one goal and red-and-white clad spectators chanting "Polska" behind the opposite goal. There were also plenty of empty seats.
Poland again struggled to get the ball to Lewandowski, a two-time FIFA player of the year.
While Lewandowski did miss wide on one long-range opportunity early on, he also gestured angrily at his teammates for not providing him with the ball.
Lewandwoski's first penalty attempt in the final seconds was saved but he scored with the second after a video review ruled that Lloris left his line too early.