England meet the reigning World Cup holders France in the quarter-finals of Qatar 2022 on Saturday. So, HITC Football has predicted Gareth Southgate’s line-up with just one change.
Les Bleus pose a far more dangerous threat to the Three Lions’ hopes of reaching the final than any side they have met yet. Didier Deschamps’ squad have captivated the World Cup in Qatar with their fluid attacking play led by Paris Saint-Germain dynamo, Kylian Mbappe.
The winger has already run England ragged in their only previous meeting with the France talisman. Mbappe tormented a Three Lions squad featuring John Stones during a friendly in 2017. He was only 17 at the time but still run rings around England in a 3-2 France win.
England to make one change in our predicted line-up to stop France and Mbappe
A friendly at the Stade de France now acts as a warning for what may be to come. Mbappe is the top-scorer at Qatar 2022 with five goals through four games so far. No other player – including England stars Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford – has hit more than three home.
England must now hope years of work pay off on Saturday after planning for a match with France since 2020. Southgate’s right-hand man Steve Holland has shared how the Football Association has kept a scout tracking France and Mbappe for far longer than just in Qatar.
“We got back at 3am, we went to bed, we were up at 9,” Holland noted, via The Guardian. “We had a presentation to us from a member of the FA, one of the national coaches who’s been tracking France all the way throughout this tournament and for the last two years.
“So, an expert not just on what’s happened at this tournament but the thinking of the manager with choices, selections [and] different types of opponent for the last two years. We started this morning really getting up to speed specifically on the opponent.”
Holland addressed the FA’s work monitoring France following England’s Round of 16 win over Senegal. The Three Lions beat the Lions of Teranga 3-0 to secure a quarter-final with Les Bleus. Deschamps’ squad claimed a comfortable 3-1 win against Poland in the last 16.
HITC football has now predicted that England’s plan to restrict France and Mbappe will see Southgate make one change to his line-up at Al Bayt Stadium from his XI that beat Senegal.
Jordan Pickford (GK): France will have predicted who makes the England line-up
France will expect, rather than have predicted, Jordan Pickford to be in the England line-up on Saturday. The goalkeeper is Southgate’s clear first-choice option between the sticks and is playing at a high level in Qatar. He will also need to be quick off his line to stop Les Bleus.
Kyle Walker (RB): The likely match-up of the tie is here against Mbappe
Kyle Walker vs Mbappe is likely to be the match-up of the quarter-final between England and France. If the full-back can use his pace and power to keep up with the forward, it will offer Southgate his best chance at a win. But Deschamps has more than just one weapon.
John Stones (CB): England will fear flashbacks of the defender vs Mbappe in 2017
Some England fans may fear flashbacks to 2017 and Mbappe running rings around Stones at just 17 years old. The defender had no answers for what the forward tried at the Stade de France five years ago. Even trying to foul Mbappe did not help Stones keep him back.
Eric Dier (CB): The only precited change in our England line-up vs France
HITC Football has predicted Southgate will make one change to his England line-up against France. We also expect the change to come with a shift in formation with Southgate to use a five-man defence instead of the four-man line the Three Lions have used in Qatar so far.
Southgate has traditionally favoured a five-man backline with Walker’s pace adding to his central options. But he may seek to double-up on Mbappe with the full-back and Stones. So, £4m Tottenham Hotspur man Eric Dier could come in to occupy a centralised position.
Harry Maguire (CB): A staple of the England line-up is going nowhere against France
Harry Maguire has been a staple of the England line in Qatar and it would be a mistake to predict he will not face France. The Manchester United outcast has put his club troubles in the rear-view mirror to offer Southgate his most-reliable defender over Qatar 2022 so far.
Luke Shaw (LB): His biggest defensive test of the World Cup so far is coming
Luke Shaw has performed admirably at both ends of the pitch for England so far during the World Cup. He will give France problems if allowed to join the Three Lions’ attacks. But Les Bleus will also give the Manchester United ace his biggest defensive test at Qatar 2022 yet.
Declan Rice (CM): Southgate will hope he helps England set the pace on Saturday
Jordan Henderson was one of England’s star performers against Senegal after justifying his selection with a goal. The £20m Liverpool midfielder also joined Declan Rice in setting their tone in the centre. But Henderson will be the most at risk so that Dier can start in defence.
Southgate axing the Reds star for Dier would leave Rice to set the pace of England’s play at Al Bayt Stadium. The West Ham United captain has already shown he is up to the job while also able to interrupt France’s play. Qatar 2022 is just emphasising why he is so important.
Jude Bellingham (CM): France offers his chance to win the Best Young Player award
Jude Bellingham has taken to the World Cup like a duck to water as the heartbeat of how England want to play. Another star performance against France on Saturday would surely see the 19-year-old cement his right to win the Best Young Player award for Qatar 2022.
Mbappe won the Best Young Player award for Russia 2018 at 19 as the third teenager yet to win the gong. The France winger fired Les Bleus to the title with four goals and an assist. He joined Brazil legend Pele at just 17 years old in 1958 and Michael Owen at 18 back in 1998.
Bukayo Saka (RW): Southgate will hope the winger plays into Plan Mbappe 2022
Southgate will hope Saka can play his part in Plan Mbappe 2022 as well as causing France issues on Saturday. The Arsenal forward was England’s inspiration against Iran and offered a key offensive threat against Senegal. But Ismaila Sarr got the better of him defensively.
Harry Kane (ST): England’s captain is finally off the mark with his first goal in Qatar
Harry Kane will have relieved England fans and Southgate when the Tottenham forward hit his first goal of Qatar 2022 against Senegal. The Three Lions skipper was a peripheral part of England’s attacks in the group stage. But he may only need one chance to hurt France.
Phil Foden (LW): Southgate is to call against recalling Rashford again on Saturday
Southgate made a big decision for the Round of 16 by opting for Phil Foden over Rashford. The latter had scored twice against Wales in their final Group B tie, with his first breaking Cymru’s spirits before Foden tapped home. Yet his decision would pay off against Senegal.
Foden showed great poise on the ball and had a hand in all three of England’s goals against Senegal. So, HITC Football has predicted Southgate will again pick the Manchester City ace in his line-up against France. Rashford will have to hope he can have a say from the bench.
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