Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Jacob Steinberg in Doha

Gareth Southgate urges England to ‘step up mentally’ to France challenge

England’s Jude Bellingham trains in the gym with his teammates at the Al Wakrah Stadium.
England’s Jude Bellingham trains in the gym with his teammates at the Al Wakrah Stadium. Photograph: Eddie Keogh/The FA/Getty Images

Gareth Southgate has urged his players to stand up and be counted when England play their World Cup quarter-final against France on Saturday night.

England, who have never won a knockout game against an elite-level nation at a major tournament away from home, face a huge test of their quality and mental strength when they take on the world champions at the Al Bayt Stadium. There will be no room for fear against France, whose chief threat will come from Kylian Mbappé, and Southgate wants his side to show how how much they have matured since reaching the semi-finals in 2018.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.