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Three Lions Prey on Holders France

Photo of Interns Interns10/12/2022 - 02:47 pm

A titanic battle at Al Bayt Stadium is looming large, as England and France prepare to fight it out for a place in the FIFA World Cup semi-finals.

Two of the most in-form teams in international football at present, these nations are set to share a pitch at the World Cup for the first time in 40 years.

Since then, the Three Lions and Les Bleus have met three times at the Euro tournament – 1992; 2004; 2012 – and on several occasions in international friendlies. Overall, this will be a 32nd meeting between them. England have taken just a solitary win in its last nine battles with the French.

Both sides relatively breezed through the Round of 16. England outplayed Senegal by three goals to nil, while France also shipped three goals past Poland.

Both Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé were on target in the last round, the former opening his account at Qatar 2022 and the latter for his fourth and fifth goals of the tournament. Mbappé is now up to nine goals at the World Cup finals and he has scored 16 goals in his last 14 matches with his country.

Although Kane took four games to get up and running, the 2018 Golden Boot winner remains of essence in attack. The England skipper created two goals in their World Cup opener against Iran and he is just one shy of Wayne Rooney’s record 53 goals for the Three Lions.

Kane’s direct opposite number, Olivier Giroud opened the scoring in the last-16 tie with Poland for what was his 52nd goal in France colours. The 36-year-old has climbed above Thierry Henry and is now the outright top scorer of all-time for Les Bleus.

Neither team is devoid of attacking outlets and there shouldn’t be a shortage of goals at Al Bayt Stadium on Saturday evening.

Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka have found the net three times apiece, contributing to England scoring more goals at this tournament (12) than they did at the 2006, 2010, and 2014 events combined (11).

England have scored the joint-most goals of any team at Qatar 2022, as well as the most by the Three Lions at any World Cup finals. They have also had eight different players on the scoresheet at .

While goals shouldn’t be a problem in this particular encounter, it is the battle in midfield which could prove decisive.

France’s entire midfield is playing at a maiden World Cup finals and the experience of Jordan Henderson, who is at his third World Cup, could prove essential. Despite being thrown in the deep end due to a crippling injury crisis, Aurelien Tchouaméni has produced satisfactory performances and his forthcoming positional duel with Jude Bellingham will be of huge substance.

Like Tchouaméni, Bellingham is embracing his first World Cup experience however the teenager has produced dazzling performances in the Middle East and he was crucial in both of England’s two first-half goals against Senegal.

Another vastly important figure in midfield for England, Declan Rice has reportedly overcome illness and he is expected to retain his place for this colossal match-up.

Although France are the reigning world champions, Gareth Southgate has the means to overcome the men in blue. The England manager ought to be bold and maintain an attacking shape, which would present a promising chance England will emerge victorious.

Southgate, however, has a reputation of being overly cautious and it remains to be seen whether he will retain the tried and tested 4-3-3 formation from the past four games, or revert to his favoured two midfielders sitting in front of three central defenders.

England have scored the most goals at the tournament and Southgate ought to stick with his current set-up if they are to reach back-to-back World Cup semi-finals.

Southgate the means to overcome France.
(Photo: Getty Images)

As mentioned earlier, these nations are braced for a first World Cup clash since 1982. They previously met at the 1966 event, in which England went on to secure its one and only world title.

France were last involved in a World Cup penalty shootout 16 years ago, when they lost to Italy in the final, in what was the final game of Zinedine Zidane’s playing career.

At that same tournament in 2006, England crashed out on penalties at the hands of Portugal in the quarter-finals. More recently, four years ago, the Three Lions edged Colombia from the penalty spot in the Round of 16.

The bookies suggest it is going to be difficult to separate these two teams on Saturday. England are 3.00 to come out on top in regulation time, while France are 2.60 to win and advance to the semi-finals; 3.10 for the contest to end in a draw and be decided beyond 90 minutes. (Bet365)

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Photo of Interns Interns10/12/2022 - 02:47 pm

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