Fans sing English national anthem ahead of France quarter-final
England play France in a huge World Cup quarter-final in Qatar. The Three Lions face their toughest test of the tournament so far against the defending champions France after topping Group B and defeating Senegal in the last 16 to reach this stage.
Gareth Southgate has named an unchanged team for England’s first-ever match against France in the knockout stages of a major international tournament, which sees Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden retain their places in a 4-3-3 system.
The England manager has urged his team to be bold and attack France, who have in Kylian Mbappe this World Cup’s leading goalscorer and perhaps the most dangerous forward in football.
England reached the semi-finals of the World Cup in Russia in 2018 but Southgate believes his team are better prepared for success now than four years ago. With millions around the country set to tune in, this could be the night that makes or breaks those hopes.
Follow all the action from England vs France in our live blog below
Penalty to England!
52 mins: Bukayo Saka carries the ball into the right side of the penalty area and weaves around two defenders before getting hit by Aurelien Tchouameni.
Saka goes down and the referee points to the spot!
Michael Jones10 December 2022 20:12
England 0-1 France
51 mins: Kylian Mbappe brings the ball down the left wing and tries to get past Jordan Henderson and Kyle Walker. Henderson has a nibble and Mbappe falls over under the slightest contact.
The referee gives France a free kick and Henderson throws his hands up in disbelief.
England keep their heads though and deal with the free kick when it gets whipped into the box.
Michael Jones10 December 2022 20:10
England 0-1 France
48 mins: Bellingham is whacked by a lunging tackle from Dembele who gets shown a yellow card. The referee lets the play go on as Phil Foden storms down the left and sends a cross into the middle where Upamecano boots the ball out for a corner.
Shot! The corner ball gets nodded out to Bellingham who rattles a shot straight back towards the target but gets denied by the fingertips of Hugo Lloris!
Michael Jones10 December 2022 20:08
Second half: England 0-1 France
The first 45 minutes belonged to France. They retained the ball well and a moment of magic from Aurelien Tchouameni sent them in front. England need to take control of midfield more to get themselves back into this.
Jude Bellingham gets the match back underway. No changes yet from Gareth Southgate.
Michael Jones10 December 2022 20:05
HT England 0-1 France
England have never won a World Cup match in which they’ve been losing at half-time (with two draws and six defeats).
In contrast France have won 24 of their 25 World Cup matches when leading at half-time with the other game ending in a draw.
Michael Jones10 December 2022 20:01
Watch Tchouameni goal: France midfielder scores World Cup quarter-final opener against England
The Real Madrid star dispatched a shot from outside the penalty area, low into the bottom left corner past Jordan Pickford.
The goal was controversial though, having followed a challenge from Dayot Upamecano on Bukayo Saka in the French final third as Gareth Southgate’s side attacked.
Michael Jones10 December 2022 19:58
HT England 0-1 France
France probably shouldn’t be in front due to a foul on Saka in the build-up to their goal but take nothing away from Tchouameni’s shot. It was a blinder which left Pickford sprawled on the deck.
Michael Jones10 December 2022 19:54
Half-time: England 0-1 France
45+4 mins: A long ball from Harry Maguire wins England a corner right at the end of the first half. Phil Foden delivers the set piece but it sails over Harry Maguire’s head and France run the ball away.
Theo Hernandez gets on the ball but he loses it to Jude Bellingham and stays down. The referee stops play with England in a dangerous area which elicits jeers from the England fans.
The whistle goes to signal the half-time break with France in front.
Michael Jones10 December 2022 19:50
England 0-1 France
45 mins: Four minutes of added time to play at the end of the first half. Can England get an equaliser before the break?
Michael Jones10 December 2022 19:45
England 0-1 France
42 mins: There’s a round of ironic cheers from the England fans inside the stadium after Antoine Griezmann is shown a yellow card for a late clip on Kyle Walker’s ankles.
That’s one of the few decisions the referee has given in England’s favour. All the 50/50 ones seem to be going the way of France.
Michael Jones10 December 2022 19:43
Kaynak: briturkish.com