The Three Lions look to make their way deeper into the World Cup, but come up against Kylian Mbappe and his teammates. See Last Word on Football’s predictions and the best odds for England vs France, with a look at some of the tactics we could see in the match.
England vs France – Predictions and Best Odds
England Current Run of Form
The England side are currently on an excellent run of form. The four matches so far have seen twelve England goals and three clean sheets, showing a high level of consistency both at the back of the pitch and in attack.
France Current Run of Form
France are playing incredibly well in this World Cup. A single loss to Tunisia is the only real issue in their record, with a heavily rotated side losing to a fairly weak side. Kylian Mbappe is especially on strong form, as he is quickly working his way towards the Golden Boot.
England’s Tactics
Gareth Southgate could look to somewhat rotate his squad, seeking to take even further control over the midfield than in prior matches. In this case, that means starting Kalvin Phillips. In spite of his lack of football of late, he could offer a sturdy presence that breaks up promising France moves.
Something to keep an eye on in this fixture is the way that the Three Lions will attack. You can expect to see Harry Kane dropping deep as a false nine, pulling a centre-back with him. This opens an incredibly tempting space for a Jude Bellingham attack to crack Les Bleus open. Wide attacks vary depending on the wing, with Luke Shaw able to advance down the right with Phil Foden cutting inside ahead of him. On the right Kyle Walker could be pinned back by Kylian Mbappe, forcing Bukayo Saka to be the creative powerhouse on that flank.
France’s Tactics
France will likely set out with a lineup similar to their most recent match in a 4-3-3 structure. Thanks to injuries the side has minimal depth, which could prove a challenge for Didier Deschamps’ management.
The way Les Bleus will attack is incredibly interesting. The defensive line will essentially be more of a three than a four, with Jules Kounde providing defensive support rather than attacking. Ousmane Dembele will take attacking duties on that wing instead. On the other side, Theo Hernandez has license to bomb on, as Kylian Mbappe prefers cutting inside and opening up shooting opportunities. Olivier Giroud will look to make runs in behind, with Antoine Griezmann effectively acting as a creator.
England vs France Prediction
No matter what, this will be a fascinating contest. With the tournament football Gareth Southgate’s England focus on, durability is key. Scoring the first goal for the Three Lions will crack the game right open, and could see a high scoring match as some of the world’s finest attacking talent engages in a 90 minute slogging match. England win, hopefully by a comfortable margin.
Current Odds: England vs France
France are narrow favourites at 14/9, with an England win coming in at 2/1.
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