These are the sorts of games we live for during the World Cup! Two proud teams with an inseparable history – both on and off the field – clash for a place in the final four of the World Cup.
To Win Match
England 2/1 | Draw 9/4 | France 14/10
To Qualify
England 1/1 | Draw 9/4 | France 7/10
Gareth Southgate’s side finished at the summit of Group B by beating Wales, they have consolidated that with a thumping of the Lions of Teranga last Sunday evening. There remains a sense of doubt around England’s ability on the international stages – but you can’t really critique any of their performances since the rather limp showing against the USA.
Southgate was called into question online around his decision to drop Marcus Rashford to the bench for the clash against Senegal. This gave Bukayo Saka a chance to start and well, I suppose given the result of the game – nobody’s really arguing now, are they?
Personally, I didn’t understand the need for the change, but I also cannot try and suggest that Saka was awful or that Rashford should have been preferred…I guess that just speaks again to the depth of this English squad (or maybe we should say British squad…)
England’s results from 2022 were indeed awful, but the Three Lions showed again how devastating they can be! Ripping through Senegal with absolute clinical finishing in front of goal, but also a degree of comfort playing on the counter.
We know what France poses upfront, but England will surely be confident in their attacking line asking questions of the French. The English have an exuberant attack who, playing at their full potential, can cause chaos for any opposition.
Reigning World champions France bounced back from their loss to Tunisia in emphatic fashion! Les Bleus destroyed Poland in every area of the field, I mean at no point during the 90 minutes did Poland look as though they could conjure up something to get themselves back into the fixture.
Liberte, egalite, Mbappe! The French talisman has now scored five goals at this World Cup alone! A tally which saw him surpass the record held by Pele – and I suppose only a fool will bet against him scoring a few more this tournament!
Didier Deschamps will know that goals can come from anywhere on the pitch for the French – but it is his defensive stability which is needed to get his side over the line and into the final four.
As I said earlier, England were superb going forward against Senegal, they really were. However, when Senegal was able to move the ball quickly and move up the pitch at pace playing through the lines – England didn’t always look the most comfortable.
Now, when you add the skill of Olivier Giroud, cleverness of Antoine Griezmann and pace of Mbappe – the task for the likes of Harry Maguire and John Stones becomes deceptively insurmountable.
France are worthy favourites, but at this stage of the tournament you’ll have to forgive the age-old cliché – anything can happen.
Verdict: + BTTS (46/10)
I cannot in good faith predict anything other than a French win. They have a complete football side, capable of causing anyone issues. The performance against Poland was outstanding, they were clinical and ruthless in every moment, every encounter, and every passage of play.
I don’t think France win the entire thing – but that might just be a superstitious nod toward the history of being able to defend the title. I do think France beat England though.
