England v France (Quarter Final)

Think they would argue it's a baguette

 

Batch

 

First ever World Cup knockout game between these two, and I think the first ever even including the Euros?

Edit: it is.

 

Will be on ITV

 

See that door on your right?


Open it and get out.

 

England need to vastly improve again when we play France.

Once England got the goal the were very good in controlling the game, the French are going to offer much more than Senegal did.

I think they can do it but I'm not getting carried away.

I hope Bellingham stays in Germany and someone's buys Grealish. We have exceptional talent as long as their qualities aren't trained out of them or the media doesn't destroy them.

 

The winner of this game will be in the final. I’d put the French as favourites largely down to Mbappe but if (a big if) we can nullify him we've got a chance. I wouldn’t swap our midfield for theirs either, Bellingham has arguably been the player of the tournament

I thought we’d go to a back 5 for this but it will be hard to drop any of the 3 centre-mids so the 4-3-3 with two pivots is a decent alternative. It would be harsh on Foden or Saka but I’d start Rashford for this one because the French will dominate the ball and getting someone in behind may be our best hope.

 

Think it will be a tight game but I think the experience and quality of France’s front 3 wins out in the end. 1-2 France.

 

England will need to improve on the level of performance they've produced so far in the tournament against France. But I think you could say similar about the French as well, particularly as Poland made them look vulnerable at times this afternoon. It should be a contender for match of the tournament and I just hope England don't have regrets come this time on Saturday night.

 

I think this one goes to extra time

France have conceded to Poland, Australia and Denmark so I don’t think this is the guaranteed French victory that some are expecting. Both teams have quality going forward and keeping Mbappe quiet will be a massive job, but if Southgate is bold and sticks with a back 4 and a midfield three I can see England progressing.

Gut feeling says that if he opts for a back 5, although there’s more bodies in defence I just think France will win the midfield battle and have too much of the ball in the England half for them to not be a constant danger.

It’s certainly a really interesting match up and I’d go as far to say whoever wins this wins the whole tournament

 

Congrats, England. I had no doubt that they would win that match against Senegal (and wrote this also in the thread before the match).

France vs England. Cracker match! Good luck!

Wow, that is astonishing that England never played a knockout game against France, neither in World Cup nor Euros? We met both of you several times in the knockout stages.


@StretfordEnd : I know it's not so important than a quarterfinal thread of England vs France but we already have another quarterfinal ready since Saturday: Netherlands vs Argentina. I can't find it

 

Will go slightly with England. Will be really close though

OK I'll do it then

 

You may not have to: Rice could easily play as 3rd CB when France have the ball in order to add more bodies. It should also benefit England as Rice was rightly nullified by the two Senegalese strikers before England's opening goal (which settled a lot of nerves!). I wasn't too keen on Southgate dropping his customary back 3 but the midfield trio of Rice, Henderson & Bellingham is probably the best of the tournament (ours is alright but Griezmann is playing deeper to accomodate the team and it's not really where he excels even though he's had a good tournament so far).

Don't care who wins as long as the winner of this one doesn't lose the semi (especially if it's Portugal).

 

I see it going like this:

A cagey opening, up until late in the first half when Mbappe turns his man and gets in behind, clinically planting the ball beyond Pickford. England then toil to get back in the game, while periodically being opened up on the break by France, who will be wasteful with their chances to kill England off. England will go on to have a couple of golden opportunities of their own late on, but France ultimately survive and win 1-0.

 

If we don’t sit deep and isolate our forward runners then we will have a chance imo.

My concern is that Southgate goes very cagey and sets us up to nullify their attack rather than playing to our strengths and going for the kill.

The defence needs to be on it in this game. Especially Walker. Mbappe can be a player that gets frustrated if things don’t go his way but one lapse of concentration is all he needs.

We need to win the midfield battle against these and I think we can. They are getable in defence as well. Should be a decent game and I’d only put the French as slight favourites.

 

The first meeting since 1982. Bryan Robson 27 seconds.

That was a group game of course.

 

Pretty much exactly what I think too, plus add the commentator mentioning how england have more support in the ground numerous times, then cut to the small number of France fans celebrating at the end.