France will face England in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup on Saturday. So, HITC Football looks at who started the last Bleus XI to beat the Three Lions with Kylian Mbappe.
England met an 18-year-old Mbappe at the Stade de France in June 2017 during an end-of-season friendly. It was the 31st time that the two nations have met across all competitions and returned France’s ninth win. The Three Lions had triumphed on 17 previous occasions.
Les Bleus have also held the Three Lions to five draws, most recently in their opening game at Euro 2012. Samir Nasri equalised for France eight minutes after Joleon Lescott broke the deadlock. Dele Alli and Wayne Rooney later hit in a friendly for England’s last win in 2015.
England are unbeaten against France at World Cups after two meetings
England have won each of their previous two matches with France at World Cups ahead of the Qatar 2022 quarter-finals. The Three Lions beat Les Bleus 2-0 in their third Group 1 tie in 1966. They also later secured a 3-1 win during their opening Group 4 match at Spain 1982.
Alli and Rooney’s hits in 2015 snapped a six-game winless run for England against France, though. They had not triumphed over Les Bleus since 1997, losing four of their next games. Didier Deschamps then dealt Gareth Southgate a 3-2 defeat in 2017 during their last clash.
Deschamps beat Southgate’s XI the last time France faced England
Southgate and Deschamps will now meet one another again on Saturday, December 10 at Al Bayt Stadium. England and France travel to Al Khor for their quarter-final tie at the 2022 World Cup at 19:00 GMT. And a 23-year-old Mbappe is likely to have a big say in the game.
England saw an 18-year-old Mbappe’s potential first-hand when he started the last France XI to beat the Three Lions. The forward also laid on the assist for Ousmane Dembele’s 78th-minute winning goal. Samuel Umtiti (22’) and Djibril Sidibe (43’) had already found the net.
Harry Kane provided each of England’s efforts after breaking the deadlock on nine minutes from Ryan Bertrand’s cross. He later got Southgate’s side level with a 48th-minute penalty. Raphael Varane fouled Alli inside the area and received a straight red card for the collision.
The pace of France’s attack was far too much for England to control, despite their one-man advantage, however. Even with Southgate experimenting with a three-man defence at the Stade de France, Les Bleus tormented the Three Lions at will and ran John Stones ragged.
So, who started in the last France XI to beat England in 2017? HITC Football takes a look at Deschamps’ line-up from June 2017 ahead of Les Bleus and the Three Lions meeting again in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup on Saturday, December 10 at Al Bayt Stadium…
Hugo Lloris (GK): The Tottenham star captained the last France XI to face England
Tottenham Hotspur star Hugo Lloris has faced England four times ahead of likely starting in France’s XI at Qatar 2022. He has also beaten the Three Lions on two occasions to one loss and a draw. The 35-year-old will look to add to his tally on Saturday in likely his 143rd cap.
Djibril Sidibe (RB): The 2018 World Cup winner hit his only France goal vs England
Sidibe pounced to put France in front shortly before half-time the last time an England XI met Les Bleus. Dembele created the full-back’s effort after running rings around Stones in 2017. Tom Heaton then denied the forward with a good save only for it to fall for Sidibe.
The goal has so far proven to be Sidibe’s only effort for France across 18 caps while laying on three assists. Deschamps gave the 30-year-old his debut in September 2016 but has not now called up the defender – who spent 2019/20 on loan to Everton – since October 2019.
Raphael Varane (CB): The referee reached for his red card after just 47 minutes
Finding a way around Varane will be key to England’s efforts to win their quarter-final with France at Qatar 2022. Southgate will not be able to rely on another possibly questionable red card this week like in 2017 when referee Davide Massa referred to VAR Marco Guido.
Samuel Umtiti (CB): The defender got France level the last time they met England
Umtiti drew France level after starting the last Bleus XI to beat England with one of his four goals across 31 caps so far. It was also the first of the 29-year-old goals for his national side a year after debuting. But Deschamps has not called up the injury-plagued star since 2019.
Benjamin Mendy (LB): Lucas Digne replaced the defender after just 21 minutes
Deschamps gave Benjamin Mendy one of his 10 caps against the Three Lions at the Stade de France. Yet the Bleus boss had to replace the left-back after just 21 minutes due to an injury he sustained after colliding with Raheem Sterling. Lucas Digne came on in his place.
Paul Pogba (CM): An injury denied the midfielder his chance to go to Qatar 2022
Paul Pogba was central to the France XI that beat England in 2017 after taking command of the midfield battle. But Deschamps could not take the Juventus star to Qatar 2022 after he suffered a thigh issue during his recovery from knee surgery that has kept him out all term.
N’Golo Kante (CM): Another injury for another key midfielder hit France in 2022
Deschamps is also without another one of France’s key midfielders at Qatar 2022. Chelsea sent N’Golo Kante for hamstring surgery this October, which ruled the 31-year-old out for four months. The 2018 World Cup winner has been key for Deschamps since March 2016.
Ousmane Dembele (RM): Mbappe created the last France goal to beat England
Barcelona signed Dembele from Borussia Dortmund for up to £135.5m two months after he tormented England for France in 2017. The winger was a relentless threat and got his goal with a thunderous low finish 12 minutes from time. He has now hit home four over 32 caps.
Thomas Lemar (LM): Didier Deschamps has now not called him up in over a year
It has been more than a year since Deschamps last named Thomas Lemar in a France side. The winger was also a peripheral figure in comparison to his teammate against the Three Lions in 2017. Yet the 27-cap ace scored twice against the Netherlands in his next outing.
Olivier Giroud (ST): Qatar 2022 has seen the striker become France’s top-scorer
Qatar 2022 has seen Olivier Giroud become France’s all-time top-scorer ahead of Thierry Henry with 52 goals in 117 caps. Deschamps has had to rely on the Arsenal hero, now of AC Milan, after 2022 Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema suffered a thigh injury in training.
Kylian Mbappe (ST): England witnessed the France star’s potential at 18 years old
England witnessed the potential Mbappe possessed at just 18 years old when France beat Southgate’s XI in 2017. The forward led Deschamps’ attack and was instrumental to their victory. So much so that Stones ultimately resorted to fouling him to try and stop Mbappe.
It did not work, though, as Mbappe forced a solid save from substitute Jack Butland in the second half. He also produced another tantalising break in the closing stages which led to Mbappe laying on Dembele’s winner. Southgate will need more from Stones this Saturday.
Stones has been central to England’s route to the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals and a first date with France since 2017. Mbappe, likewise, has been pivotal for his side with five goals and two assists in four appearances. His form may yet lead to him winning the Golden Ball.
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