All eyes are on Kylian Mbappe as England look to outfox holders France to reach the World Cup semi-finals.
Optimism is high in Les Bleus' camp ahead of the quarter-final showdown after France steamed past Poland in the last round with a convincing 3-1 scoreline. Mbappe stole the headlines in that victory after bagging two goals towards the end to put the tie to bed.
England will be all too wary of the threat Mbappe possesses, even before France boss Didier Deschamps warned them his striker could destroy them in a blink of an eye.
“I’m sure England will have prepared to face Kylian, as our previous opponents did,” said Deschamps. “Kylian is always in a position to make the difference. Even in the last match, when he didn’t have his best game, when he didn’t show his top form compared to previous games, he was still decisive.
“We have other players that can be dangerous as well and that helps us not to be over-reliant on Kylian. But Kylian is Kylian, and he always will be. He has that capacity to make the difference at any moment in the match."
Deschamps does not need to remind England of the other talent he has at his disposal. Olivier Giroud claimed a record-breaking goal in the win over Poland, notching his 52nd international goal to make him France's all-time top goalscorer ahead of Thierry Henry.
HAVE YOUR SAY : What should England's lineup be to face France? Let us know in the comments below.
Giroud has benefitted from Karim Benzema's absence at this tournament, but has more than shown his worth to his nation again, and will be keen to prove a point against England after indifferent spells at Arsenal and Chelsea.
The striker will lead France's attack in front of a three-man support cast, with Mbappe being joined by Ousmane Dembele on the opposite flank and Antoine Griezmann in the No.10 role. That lineup has produced nine goals in three starts at this tournament, and England's defence will need to be on task if they are to keep Mbappe at co. at bay.
However, beyond France's attack, the Three Lions might fancy their chances. Injuries to various players such as Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kante diminished Deschamps' options in the middle of the park prior to the World Cup getting under way.
Instead, he will rely on the double pivot in midfield of Adrien Rabiot and Aurelian Tchouameni to provide the foundation on which his side can attack. Rabiot scored and was instrumental in the opening win over Australia, while Madrid star Tchouameni has emerged as one of his country's brightest talents.
They will sit in front of the same back four which Deschamps has put his faith in throughout the tournament, in what will be an unchanged lineup from his preferred XI. Theo Hernandez will operate at left-back, with Raphael Varane and Dayot Upamecano in central defence, and Jules Kounde at right-back.
France's captain, Hugo Lloris, of Tottenham, will line up in goal against his club team-mate and England's skipper Harry Kane - who will no doubt have his own ambitions of upstaging Mbappe to send his team to the final four.
France predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Kounde, Varane, Upamecano, T Hernandez; Rabiot, Tchouameni; Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe; Giroud
