ENGLAND are set to remain UNCHANGED tonight against France from the team that beat Senegal 3-0 in the last-16. The Three Lions face their biggest test yet under Gareth Southgate as they take on rivals France in the World Cup quarter-finals this evening.
It’s been a cushty ride so far for Southgate and Co, havung topping topped group before the victory against Senegal.
But France have superstar Kylian Mbappe, top scorer in Qatar so far, in their ranks and will be looking to do some serious damage to England’s hopes of glory.
Kick-off: 7pm UK time
TV channel: ITV1
Live stream: ITV X
England XI: To follow
France XI: To follow
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Les Bleus hoping for a night to remember
Fans are congregating in fan parks and pubs all over the world to watch this crunch match between two old enemies.
The reigning champions have form for these knockout stages and French fans will be hoping that continues this evening.
Hoping that come the end of the game, ‘Allez Les Bleus’ rings out from the stands.
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The man, the myth, the legend
At the ripe age of only 23-years-old Kylian Mbappe is tearing up the record books as each game passes.
Only 13 players have got more goals in the World Cup Finals history than Mbappe, already notching 9 goals.
He averages a goal every 59 minutes with a shot accuracy of 67% and a goal conversion rate of 33%.
Kyle Walker has it all to do this evening.
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I’ll put your windows through
To truly be the best you have to commit all your time to something and Phil Foden is a true testament to that.
Something which his nan probably didn’t appreciate as much but I am sure every England fan up and down the country are thankful for.
Foden said: “I did break my Nana’s windows a couple of times back in the day. – sorry about that.”
“It’s hard for the coaches to get me off the training pitch.”
“I’m always doing something with a ball, whether it’s at home or wherever I am, whether it is two-touch or a game.”
Qatar, birthplace of a true bromance
When Gareth Southgate named Jordan Henderson in the starting line-up against Wales, deep down he knew he was unleashing a pairing that had really clicked in the camp, on and off the pitch.
Bellingham and Henderson seem to have built a real bond within the camp and there is nowhere this was further evident than on the pitch itself.
The Dortmund midfielder even setting up Henderson for the first against a Senegal team who were frustrating the Three Lions up until that point.
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Credit: Getty
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Much maligned, Southgate’s midfield warhorse
As soon as he came into the first team reckoning in Qatar, fans had a lot to say about the inclusion of Jordan Henderson.
The trio he has formed with Declan Rice and new bestie Jude Bellingham has transformed the English midfield.
Against Senegal, Henderson was as busy as ever offering options all over the pitch and breaking up the opponent’s play.
Al Khor ready for titanic battle
The Al Bayt Stadium is looking in prestine condition as we edge closer to kick-off.
England will feel at home having played here multiple times already.
Not that it matters to a certain Mr Mbappe where he plays, he’ll score goals in the car park if he has to.
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All smiles in Three Lions camp
In training yesterday, England’s squad seemed relaxed as there was plenty of joking amongst the players during training.
The arrival of Raheem Sterling seemed to galvanise the group as they got their last preparations in for this evening.
With just under four hours until kick, these players have their chance to etch their names in history still.
Kylian causes media frenzy
In the Les Bleus camp this week, things were high octane with the media panic over talisman Kylian Mbappe missing training on Tuesday due to discomfort in his ankle.
Fortunately for France is was merely a false alarm.
The 23-year-old was back on the practice pitches on Wednesday and should form part of an unchanged XI.
Four-hour countdown
We’re now just FOUR hours away from England vs France tonight in the World Cup.
Will Walker stop Mbappe? How will England’s midfield match up to France’s? And can Southgate make the appropriate substitutions if the game is tight?
You’re going to find out later this evening. We’ve got plenty more coverage for you throughout the rest of the day.
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England’s potential next opponents
Morocco take on Portugal in 20 minutes in today’s other World Cup quarter-final.
The winner will face England or France next Wednesday for the chance to play in the final on December 18.
Walker on Mbappe
But Kyle Walker was bullish in his comments on the PSG forward, saying that England won’t ‘roll out the red carpet’ for him.
“The game isn’t England v Mbappe, it’s England vs France,” Walker said.
“We will give respect but I’m not going to roll out a red carpet for him to score. It’s do or die as if we lose we go home.
“I’ve come across great players before so I just treat it like another game.
“I’ll give him the respect he deserves but not too much because this is England. No one player makes a team. This isn’t tennis, it isn’t a solo sport.”
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Project STOP Mbappe
That’s the aim of the evening for England, according to Rio Ferdinand, who says Kyle Walker is fast enough to do so.
“Stop Kylian Mbappe and you stop France – he is the only reason I fear them,” he told the BBC.
“The good news for England is that Kyle Walker is definitely fast enough to deal with Mbappe – he is probably the only defender on the planet who would be happy to take him on in a race, one versus one.
“But this battle is not just going to be about raw pace alone. Mbappe’s intelligence makes Walker’s task on Saturday much harder than that.
“To get through it, Walker is going to need some help out there, so the team’s approach and the focus of the players around him will be crucial too.
“It is going to be fascinating to watch, and success or failure for England could come down to the finest of margins – Mbappe knows one tiny lapse is all it takes, and he will be away.”
Game settings
And this is the stadium where England will play France tonight in their World Cup quarter-final.
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Good omen
England have played twice at the Al-Bayt Stadium now.
The first game was a 3-0 win over Wales and the second was a 3-0 win over Senegal.
Same again tonight, chaps?
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Captain Kane is confident
“Looking back in 2018 we didn’t really know what to expect — whether we had the full belief to win the tournament I’m not quite sure,” he said.
“We backed that up in the Euros getting to another final and lost by a couple of kicks of the ball and I believe the belief has been building over the past four or five years.
“We entered this tournament hoping and believing we can win it and we have got to the stage now where we expected to be — but now it’s time to push on.
“We face a very tough game and I know everyone is ready. We are prepared and we go into that game with more belief than we had in 2018.”
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Southgate to name UNCHANGED XI
Gareth Southgate is set to name an unchanged England side for Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final clash with France tonight.
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson and Bukayo Saka were key components of that side, both scoring, and Southgate is set to keep faith in the duo by handing them starts against the reigning world champions.
Henderson will patrol the midfield alongside 19-year-old superstar Jude Bellingham as well as anchorman Declan Rice.
While Saka will start out wide on the right, and will be key in England’s efforts in stopping world beater Kylian Mbappe.
He will also provide support to captain Harry Kane as well as Phil Foden.
Southgate mainstay Jordan Pickford keeps his place in the team, as does Harry Maguire, John Stones and Luke Shaw.
SunSport prediction
Ok, we are simply letting our heart rule here.
England face a monumental task to try and dump out Mbappe et al but their is a wave of euphoria sweeping over the nation…
Go on Gareth and the lads, YOU CAN DO IT!
England 1 France 1 (Eng win on pens)
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Atmosphere building already
England and France fans are already making their voices heard out in Qatar.
Six hours to go until kick-off.
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Dave the Cat – latest
Three Lions mascot Dave the Cat is coming home – after being adopted by England heroes John Stones and Kyle Walker.
England heroes Stones and Walker initially pledged to rehome him if the Three Lions won the World Cup in Qatar.
But the duo, who will line up against France in tonight’s quarter-final, have now vowed to take him home regardless.
An FA source said: “We’ve been working with the Qatar Animal Welfare Society.
“They’ve treated him for a leg injury sustained during a fight with another cat.”
They added the mog, who strolled into the team’s base in Qatar, would live with either Stones, 28, or Walker, 32.
How to watch England vs France
England’s huge World Cup quarter-final clash with France will be shown live on ITV 1 tonight in the UK.
You can live stream the action from the ITV X app, which is available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.
England vs France is FREE to watch, so long as you have a valid TV licence.
Coverage of the game will get going from 6pm GMT.Kick-off is at 7pm GMT.
France stats
And here’s how Les Bleus are getting on.
More shots, less goals, less possession.
England stats
Here’s how the Three Lions have fared so far across the pitch at the World Cup in Qatar…
Southgate in defiant mood
The England boss has been talking over his side’s chances against world champions France.
“I think there’s always been a level of respect for England but I think we’ve got credibility now,” he said.
“To get to a semi-final then a final, I think the rest of the world believe that England are competitive and they know that we have performed under pressure a lot more in the last few years.
“When I travel around Europe and the world and meet football people, there’s definitely a greater appreciation of what we’ve done.”
“Four years ago we could have talked well but we didn’t have actual evidence of winning big matches and going through big nights together as a group,” he added.
“I think over this period of time we’ve had so many of those occasions that now there’s less satisfaction with getting to the quarter-finals, there’s more desire to go further and there’s more evidence that we’ve come through these nights well.
“I think for any team that’s an important part of growing.”
Let’s make French toast
Harry Kane Kane says England are brimming with belief – as the nation hopes they can beat France in tonight’s crunch quarter-final.
Skipper Kane told fans confidence is surging that the Three Lions can go all the way to glory.
Spurs ace Kane used the word “believe” repeatedly in his rallying cry, saying: “We’re not here just to reach a quarter-final.
“Looking back in 2018 we didn’t really know what to expect – whether we had the full belief to win the tournament I’m not quite sure.
“We backed that up in the Euros getting to another final and lost by a couple of kicks of the ball and I believe the belief has been building over the past four or five years.
“We entered this tournament hoping and believing we can win it and we have got to the stage now where we expected to be – but now it’s time to push on.”
What’s the head-to-head?
England have a brilliant record against France.
The Three Lions have won 17 of the 31 games they have faced each other, with France triumphant in nine and five draws.
But the most recent clash wasn’t so great for England – Deschamps guided Les Blues to a 3-2 win in a 2017 friendly.
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