Our prediction for this World Cup 2026 match:
There will be fireworks when England and France square off against each other at Al Bayt Stadium in the World Cup quarter-finals. England faced no difficulties in a 3-0 win over Mane-less Senegal, but they face an uphill task in Saturday’s showdown. With no fresh injury worries to report, Gareth Southgate is unlikely to make changes to the starting XI that faced the Lions of Teranga. The good news for the Three Lions is Raheem Sterling is back after missing the Senegal game due to personal reasons. Les Tricolores, on the other hand, booked their place in the quarter-finals thanks to a 3-1 win over Poland.
Kylian Mbappe looks unstoppable at the showpiece tournament in Qatar, and we predict that the PSG ace will prove a handful for the England back-line as well. In their last meeting at the World Cup finals, back in 1982, England defeated France 3-1, meaning that Didier Deschamps’ troops are hungry for revenge. Since Antoine Griezmann and Co. have been producing excellent displays in Qatar, except for the defeat to Tunisia where key players were rested, away win should be considered. Theo Hernandez has overcome his injury, but his brother Lucas remains in the recovery room.
Highlighted Player (Harry Kane):
Widely regarded as one of England’s best strikers at the moment, Harry Kane enjoyed a meteoric rise at Tottenham Hotspur, scoring 21 Premier League goals during the 2014/2015 campaign to be voted PFA Young Player of the Year.
The highly rated striker went on to surpass that achievement the following season as he helped Tottenham Hotspur mount a serious title challenge for the first time in club’s recent history and he made seamless transition to international football. Kane scored four goals in his first ten appearances for England to prove he was here to stay and at the same time established himself as a first choice striker in Roy Hodgson’s squad ahead of the Euro 2016 finals.
Kane is a modern striker, who is extremely dangerous in the opposition box, but it was some outstanding goals from distance as well as link-up play with teammates that earned him an excellent reputation in world football. Kane is expected to lead both Tottenham and England in years to come, that is if he can resist the lure of top European clubs that continue to cast admiring glances his way.
Highlighted Team (France):
Recording impressive results on international stage since 1904, France are widely regarded as one of the world’s most successful national teams, with three major trophies to their name. Two of those were won on home soil as Les Bleus emerged triumphant at the 1984 World Cup and 1998 European Championships, before also winning the 2000 Euros in Netherlands and Belgium.
Michel Platini, Jean Tigana, Luis Fernandez and Alain Giresse formed the “Carre Magique” during the 80’s as one of the most impressive attacking line-ups made life difficult for opposition defenders for years on end.
The new golden generation appeared at the turn of the century and featured players like Thierry Henry, Zinedine Zidane, David Trezeguet and Youri Djorkaef, winning back to back major trophies to place Les Bleus back on the map.
A new world-class team appears to be in the making as the likes of Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann and Raphael Varane are the pillars of the team led by Didier Deschamps. France national team now play their games at the stunning Saint Denis, or Stade de France.