France and England, the current world champion against the finalist of the last Euro Cup, will play a European classic this Saturday with an early final flavor in the quarterfinals of the Qatar-2022 World Cup.
The clash between these ‘intimate enemies’ for decades but who will face each other for the first time in a World Cup knockout match will be held at the majestic Al-Bayt stadium from 4:00 p.m.
The winner will play in the semifinals on Wednesday on the same stage against the winner of Morocco-Portugalwhich are also measured today from 12:00.
Les Bleus and the Three Lions, whose last clash dates back to 2017, have met in 33 times since 1923 but their only two duels in World Cups, in England-1966 and in Spain-1982both times in the first round, ended with english victory.
France eliminated Poland 3-1 in the round of 16 with a brilliant display from Kylian Mbappé, author of two goals and an assist for Olivier Giroud.
England, for its part, after suffering in the first half hour of the game, ended up thrashing Senegal 3-0 with a great match by the new jewel of European football, Jude Bellingham, 19, and the first appearance in the opposing net in Qatar-2022 by Captain Harry Kane.
– The Mbappé threat –
If there is a player who has been unbalancing in Qatar-2022 it is kylian mbappe.
Tournament top scorer with five points in four games, the attacker of the defending world champion reveals Gareth Southgate and all of England.
The star, who will turn 24 on December 20, was key for Les Bleus in the first phase against Denmark, where he scored a double in the 2-1 win, and in the round of 16, where he destroyed Poland with two goals and one attendance.
Along with Ousmane Dembelé and Antoine Griezmann, Mbappé takes advantage of the ‘dirty work’ of Olivier Giroud, the 9 who acts as a pivot and thus frees up and creates spaces.
The English DT, Gareth Southgate, assured that Mbappé “he is a world class player It always shows up when you need it. That’s what those different players do. That is the challenge we face.”
His presence would lead Southgate to abandon his offensive 4-3-3 that he has proposed up to now for a 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 in which the full-back Kyle Walker would play as third center-back and would be in charge to deal with Mbappé.
“I know that (Mbappé) is a great player, but we are not playing tennis. It’s not a solo sportIt’s a team game”, he added and warned that “we cannot forget about (Olivier) Giroud, who has scored innumerable (goals), or (Ousmane) Dembelé, who for me is just as good on the other flank”.
– English Fire Power –
But if France intimidates with Mbappé and company, England is not far behind.
Didier Deschamps, French coach, highlighted England’s counterattacking ability. “They have scored half of their goals in quick transitions, but he not only has this quality, but others, such as his ability to score, his danger from set pieces… It is no coincidence that we have England in front of us tomorrow.”
The inventors of professional football have delighted so far in Qatar-2022.
With Harry Kane As an assister rather than a lethal scorer, the speed on the wings of Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Marcus Rashford, Grealish and Raheem Sterling -what a dilemma for Southgate, who must choose in abundance- and the talent of Bellingham, England have marked twelve goals in four games and has only conceded two, both in the 6-2 win against Iran with the game already over.
In short, it will be a match in which the promise of offensive football and goals seems assured.
PROBABLE ALIGNMENTS
England: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Henderson, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Kane; Foden. DT: Gareth Southgate
France: you cry; Koundé, Varane, Upamecano, Theo Hernández; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Dembélé, Griezmann, Mbappé; Giroud. DT: Didier Deschamps
