The quarter final fixture between England and France is one of the highly anticipated matches this weekend with high tension between fans of both teams.
Both teams have immense quality all over the pitch, with the likes of Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe shining so far this tournament for their respective countries.
The eagerly anticipated World Cup quarter-final encounter will take place at Al Bayt Stadium.
Kick-off has been set for 8 pm local time on Saturday December 10, 2022.
England’s emphatic 3-0 win over Senegal earned them a 2022 World Cup quarterfinal against holders France, who beat Poland 3-1 in their Round of 16 fixture.
The clash at Al Bayt Stadium is an eye-catching one for neutrals, who have seen the likes of England’s Jude Bellingham and France’s Kylian Mbappe in superb form so far, as their respective sides topped their groups and cruised through to the knockout stage.
The Three Lions and Les Bleus have been facing off for almost 100 years but rarely have the stakes been as high, with a semifinal against Portugal or Morocco in the offing for Saturday’s victors.
Despite being close geographically in Europe, England and France have played each other just 11 times in the last three decades, and this period has been the most successful in Les Bleus’ history with — two World Cup triumphs coming along the way.
France have won five of their matches against England since the two teams played out a goalless draw in the 1992 European Championships, including a dramatic 2-1 group-stage victory in the 2004 European Championships.
England’s only wins over France in their last 10 attempts came in 2015, when goals from Dele Alli and Wayne Rooney clinched a 2-0 friendly victory, and in the 1997 Tournoi de France summer exhibition series.
However, the further back you go into the history between these two teams, the better England’s record gets.
England have won 17 of their 31 international matches against France, dating back to May 1923.
The two teams have met twice in the World Cup, with England winning both encounters: the first a 2-0 victory during England’s glorious 1966 campaign, and the second a 3-1 group-stage win over Les Bleus at the 1982 World Cup.
Recent meetings between England and France have largely gone the way of Didier Deschamps’ team, with the last competitive fixture a 1-1 draw in the group stage of the 2012 European Championships.
There seems not to be any serious injury worries in the camp of both teams as all top players are in good shape.
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