Ferocious France face effective England

Flying on the shoulders of their superstar Kylian Mbappe, France will take on an effective England side led by Gareth Southgate for a place in the final four at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al-Khor today.

The clash between the two heavyweights in the Quarter-finals means that one of the World Cup favourites will drop out early.

France have displayed the most potency growing forward in this tournament despite their shock defeat to Tunisia, while England remain one of the members of the continuously shrinking unbeaten club.

The French’s biggest threat is definitely Mbappe, who is currently leading the scoring charts with five goals. And if the English want to reach the semis, they know they will have to stop the PSG star.

France coach Didier Deschamps has already warned England of his star pupil.

“I imagine England will take measures like our four previous opponents did but Kylian has the ability to make the difference. Even in the last game, when he wasn’t at his best like in the first two, he was still decisive, but if we can share the danger that stops too many precautions from being taken against Kylian. But Kylian will always be Kylian, with the ability to be decisive at any moment,” he said.

England defender Kyle Walker, likely to be tasked with the demanding job of stopping the French winger, stressed that it was a team game and they needed to stop the French side, not just Mbappe.

“I know he’s a top player but we’re not playing tennis. It’s not a solo sport, it’s a team game. We know he’s a great player and that’s why he’s the focus of all questions. But let’s not forget (Olivier) Giroud, who has scored countless (goals), (Ousmane) Dembele, for me just as good on the other wing,” he said.

As Walker said, England will also have to deal with the lightning speed and dribbling of Ousmane Dembele, who has now found his feet in the national team. And their striker Olivier Giroud has already scored three goals and will be in the hunt for more.

On the other hand, England will hope that youngster Jude Bellingham, who has been phenomenal for them throughout the tournament, will also turn up against France. Skipper Harry Kane found his first goal of the tournament in the Round of 16, and Southgate will hope for more from the Tottenham striker.