Our website uses cookies to provide your browsing experience and relevant information. Before continuing to use our website, you agree & accept our Cookie Policy & Privacy.
England and France meet in a heavyweight quarter-final bout as the 2022 World Cup gets an early final-worthy matchup.
Either side will be disappointed to exit the tournament at this stage, as 2018 world champions France and Euro 2020 finalists England will both have realistic ambitions of lifting the trophy.
Gareth Southgate and Didier Deschamps arguably have the two most talented player pools to call upon in Qatar, with France's depth even making light of a pre-tournament injury crisis as they continue their pursuit of back-to-back titles.
Below are the projected lineups for both teams based on the latest news leading up to the match.
MORE: How to watch England vs. France in World Cup action across the globe
After getting to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, where they lost after extra-time against Croatia, and enduring a penalty shoot-out defeat to Italy in the Euro 2020 final, England are ready to try and scale the mountain once more.
"In terms of our experiences those big matches are important reference points for the team," Southgate said.
"There have been some defeats that hurt that prepare you for nights like tomorrow, where you have to be the very best version of yourself. We are ready to fight France for that place in the semi-finals."
Much of the pre-game focus has rested upon Kylian Mbappe, who has surged clear in the Golden Boot stakes with five goals. But Deschamps insists Les Bleus will have to call upon the full complement of their talents to overcome a fine England side.
“Kylian has this capacity to make the difference," he said. "In the last game [when he scored twice in a 3-1 win over Poland], he wasn’t at his best but he was still decisive. Spreading the danger for our opponents will avoid the focus being on him.
“Gareth Southgate is not especially appreciated or valued in his country. Just because he’s been a player previously doesn’t mean he can’t be a very good manager. He’s had some good results. On a human level, he’s someone I like a lot.”
Below are the projected starting lineups for both teams ahead of their match at Al Bayt Stadium on Saturday, December 10.
(4-3-3, right to left): 1. Pickford (GK) — 2. Walker, 5. Stones, 6. Maguire, 3. Shaw — 8. Henderson, 4. Rice, 22. Bellingham — 17. Saka, 9. Kane, 20. Foden.
The biggest question for England will be the status of Raheem Sterling, who travelled home to care for his family after a burglary at his residence. Sterling rejoined England to train on Friday and Southgate said he would be "involved" against France while being unsure to precisely what extent.
Also back home is Ben White, with the Daily Star reporting his exit from the squad came about due to a clash with assistant coach Steve Holland. The FA, White's representatives and Southgate all declined to comment on the allegations.
Declan Rice and Callum Wilson returned to training following illness and a muscle strain, respectively. Phil Foden earned his first start of the World Cup against Wales and scored before providing a pair of assists against Senegal, while Marcus Rashford has also been in sparkling form with three goals so far.
England are the only team in the World Cup field yet to earn a yellow card, so with accumulation wiped heading into the semi-finals, the Three Lions do not have any players who could earn an accumulation suspension should they advance.
(4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. Lloris (GK) — 5. Kounde, 4. Varane, 18. Upamecano, 22. T. Hernandez — 8. Tchouameni, 14. Rabiot — 11. Dembele, 7. Greizmann, 10. Mbappe — 9. Giroud.
France had plenty of pre-tournament injury issues to contend with, as Paul Pogba, N'Golo Kante, Karim Benzema, Christopher Nkunku, Mike Maignan and Presnel Kimpembe all found themselves unfit for service, but since the start of the competition, they've enjoyed a mostly clean bill of health.
Only Lucas Hernandez is no longer available from the final France roster, having torn his ACL in the opening match, but his brother Theo Hernandez has filled in impressively at left-back and has been one of France's best performers.
Jules Kounde and Aurelien Tchouameni are the two French players on yellow cards, and would be suspended for the semi-finals should they pick up another and the Bleus advance.
Here are the names on the current England and France World Cup squads in Qatar:
*No longer with the squad in Qatar
**Will miss the rest of the tournament through injury
