17:55
The stats that give cause for English optimism tonight!
There was a lot of doom and gloom heading into the World Cup in Qatar, with most England fans pessimistic about their chances of lifting the trophy for the first time since 1966.
The landscape appears to have changed however as the Three Lions have been one of the most impressive teams in Qatar, and confidence is growing that this might actually be the year that football comes home.
England shook off a slow start to book their place in the quarter finals on Sunday with a rampant 3-0 victory over Senegal.
Now they gear up for the stage of the tournament where many expected the Three Lions to crash out and have done so many times in the past - the quarter finals.
Despite the massive challenge that they face on Saturday, there is plenty of reason for supporters to believe in the Three Lions - in what would arguably be their most impressive win on paper in Southgate's reign as manager.
Sportsmail looks at the reasons why England fans should be cheerful, going into Saturday's crunch quarter final match.
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17:49
The teams in full
England: Pickford, Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw, Henderson, Rice, Bellingham, Saka, Kane, Foden.
Substitutes: Grealish, Sterling, Rashford, Trippier, Pope, Phillips, Dier, Coady, Alexander-Arnold, Mount, Ramsdale, Wilson, Maddison, Gallagher.
France: Lloris, Kounde, Varane, Upamecano, Theo Hernandez, Tchouameni, Rabiot, Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe, Giroud.
Substitutes: Pavard, Disasi, Guendouzi, Muani, Fofana, Veretout, Mandanda, Saliba, Coman, Areola, Konate, Camavinga, Thuram.
17:45
England’s players out on the pitch
Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden
Harry Kane of England
Raheem Sterling
17:42
BREAKING NEWS: France are also unchanged
Lloris (c); Kounde, Upamecano, Varane, Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe; Giroud
So confirmation that France also remain unchanged from the team that defeated Poland 3-1 in the last round.
It’ll be somewhere between 4-2-3-1 and a 4-3-3 shape - Olivier Giroud is the centre forward, with Kylian Mbappe on the left side and Ousmane Dembele on the right.
Antoine Griezmann usually occupies the No 10 position in behind them, with Adrien Rabiot and Aurelien Tchouameni in central midfield.
17:38
BREAKING NEWS: England are unchanged for the game
Pickford, Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Henderson, Rice, Bellingham; Saka, Kane, Foden
So as expected Gareth Southgate has kept faith with the same starting line-up that defeated Senegal 3-0 in the last-16.
That means a 4-3-3 formation with Kyle Walker playing as a conventional right-back despite suggestions they might double up on Kylian Mbappe on that side of the pitch.
Harry Maguire and John Stones have been solid so far during the tournament, and Luke Shaw is at left-back.
The midfield trio of Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson and Declan Rice, so effective in the last couple of games, remains in tact.
And in attack, captain Harry Kane is flanked by Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden.
Raheem Sterling is named among the substitutes having returned to Qatar.
17:37
French brains trust inspect the pitch at the Al-Bayt Stadium
We hope to bring you the confirmed team line-ups in the next few minutes.
17:30
REPORT: Magnificent Morocco send Portugal packing and leave Ronaldo in tears
MATT BARLOW: Up went the decibels and up went the barricades as Portugal threw everything they had at Morocco. Up went the tension as goalkeeper Bono made a fine save from Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe headed wide at the back post.
Off went Walid Cheddira, sent off in stoppage time as they hung on. They had spent most of the second half camped inside their penalty box repelling wave after wave of Portuguese attack but there was no way through a defence as impenetrable as the Atlas Mountains.
They have conceded only conceded once in five games in Qatar, and that was an own goal in a group win against Canada. Here, they defended in numbers and they did it heroically, keeping Portugal at arm's length during the nail-biting closing stages.
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17:27
Wembley lit up in England colours tonight
17:22
France have arrived at the Al-Bayt Stadium
Kylian Mbappe of France arrives at the stadium
Didier Deschamps, Head Coach of France, arrives
17:21
‘Losing can wait!’ French newspaper L’Equipe portray Mbappe as James Bond ahead of big game
Kylian Mbappe has dominated headlines in the French media ahead of the country's pivotal World Cup quarter-final against England on Saturday - with the PSG star depicted as a superspy.
L'Equipe, the country's top sports paper, cast Mbappe as James Bond - as the forward looks to be given licence to thrill against the Three Lions.
Alongside a picture of Mbappe is the seminal headline: 'Losing can wait'. While it claims that 'all England' fears the young Frenchman, who is the top scorer at this year's World Cup with five goals.
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17:14
Southgate fully supportive of Raheem Sterling after he flew home following burglary
England boss Gareth Southgate totally understood why Raheem Sterling needed to return home during the World Cup and revealed he has needed to step up security at his own house.
The 28-year-old forward did not feature in last Sunday's last-16 win against Senegal due to concerns over his family's wellbeing following an incident at his home in Surrey.
Sources close to Sterling initially indicated armed intruders had broken into his home while his family were inside, but subsequent police statements said the occupants of the house had reported items missing after returning to the family home from an international trip.
The Chelsea forward headed back to the UK to deal with the matter and linked back up with the squad in Qatar on Friday, ahead of the following day's World Cup quarter-final against France.
England boss Southgate said: "I had a long discussion with Raheem on the morning of the game.
"I don't think I should go into every little detail. What I heard was enough concern that he had for his family, that it was the right thing for him to go home. He's travelled back last night, he's back with us.
"You know as a manager that if a player is not in the right space to play in the game and needs that time.
"I had it with Delphy (Fabian Delph) in Russia, in different circumstances, because his wife was giving birth.
"You know that you want them really around for the game, but if they have got other things going on in their life that are difficult to be dealing with in that moment, I think any modern workplace has got to understand those things.
"I could relate to it because I've had to put extra security at home because pictures of my house have been published through this tournament. My wife was concerned about that.
"None of that is helpful. These are the sorts of spin-offs you have when you are involved with England.
"So, I could totally understand where Raheem was in terms of feeling the need to look after his family at that time."
17:08
Some England fans are already inside the Al-Bayt Stadium!
17:05
MARTIN SAMUEL’S PREVIEW: England will need a proper plan to contain Mbappe… it would be arrogant by Southgate not to have one
The England manager considered the life of the mind. ‘The job,’ explained Gareth Southgate, ‘is not just to have a philosophy, the job is to win matches.
‘So you can have a philosophy, but if you’re going home at the start of the tournament, that philosophy doesn’t wash. With the national team you’ve got to keep winning.’
Think of it another way. In 2007, Reading made two visits to Old Trafford, one in the FA Cup, the other in the league, and got a draw both times. In the league match, they played the last 17 minutes down to 10 men, and drew 0-0 against a team that included peak Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs.
Steve Coppell, the manager, had to get away quickly, leaving press duties to assistant Wally Downes.
You seemed to have a specific plan from the start?’ said the first questioner, admiringly. ‘Yes,’ deadpanned Downes. ‘Try coming here without one.’
And that’s the crux of it really. What were Reading to do at Old Trafford? You have a go, then we’ll have a go? It is the same with England, France and Kylian Mbappe.
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16:56
FULL-TIME: Morocco have beaten Portugal 1-0
It’s all over in the early game… Portugal are out of the World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo is out of the World Cup… magnificent Morocco are into the semi-finals!
That towering header by Youssef En-Nesyri late in the first-half, plus another heroic defensive performance in the second-half, has taken them into the last four.
One of England or France await.
This World Cup hasn’t disappointed on the pitch, has it?
1 - Morocco are the first African team to qualify for the semi-final of a World Cup tournament - each of the previous three African sides to reach a quarter-final were all eliminated at this stage (Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010). Magical. pic.twitter.com/7rq8Yrn04L
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 10, 2022
16:51
From a failed move to Man United thanks to his meddlesome mother to France’s midfield heartbeat… Adrien Rabiot is a man reborn
It was only a few months ago when Manchester United fans rejoiced at news that a potential transfer for Adrien Rabiot had collapsed.
Now, just months later, the 27-year-old has been described as 'a complete midfielder' by national team boss Didier Deschamps. In the absence of Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kante, Rabiot has thrived in France's World Cup campaign.
His performances beg the question, how did such a supremely talented player end up with such a controversial reputation - both on and off the pitch?
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16:46
A poignant touch in the press box following the death of Grant Wahl
Grant Wahl's memory has been honored by FIFA ahead of the World Cup quarter-final clash between England and France.
The 48-year-old, who passed away in Qatar Friday night, was scheduled to attend the game before tragedy struck while he was covering Argentina's win over Holland in one of the other quarter-finals.
White flowers were placed on what was to be the famed journalist's press box seat at the Al Bayt Stadium.
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16:43
Behind the scenes in the France dressing room
16:41
Kane: ‘Belief has been building for five years… we can win this’
Harry Kane also spoke yesterday and among the quotes that stood out, he said this England side have ‘more belief’ than they did when they made the semi-finals four years ago.
"I think looking back, in 2018 we didn't really know what to expect from the group," he said on the eve of the France contest.
"Of course we went there with the belief we could win, it was almost a new experience for a lot of us, we got to the semi-final there and everyone was over the moon. Whether we had the full belief we could win the tournament, I'm not quite sure.
"We backed that up in the Euros by getting to a final we lost by missing a couple of kicks of the ball. Belief has been building for four or five years now and we entered this tournament hoping and knowing we can win it.
"Now it is about pushing on, we face a really tough game tomorrow but I know everyone is ready, we are prepared and we will get into that game with more belief than perhaps we did in 2018."
16:36
LATEST: Morocco still leading Portugal 1-0
We’re now into the final 15 minutes of the 90 in the first quarter-final and we could be on the brink of another huge shock.
Morocco still lead Portugal after that header by En-Nesyri late in the first half and despite much Portugal pressure, that lead remains in tact.
16:32
England’s World Cup story so far
A quick recap of England’s campaign so far as they prepare for their fifth game in Qatar.
It began in spectacular style with that 6-2 thrashing of Iran in which their attacking forces cut loose and just couldn’t stop scoring.
Jude Bellingham scored his first international goal with a lovely header to spark a flurry of goals, with Bukayo Saka netting twice, as well as Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish getting in on the act.
If that quickened the nation’s pulses, the goalless draw with the United States that came next was a serious reality check. England struggled and might easily have lost. Still, it put a check on expectations.
But they rounded off the group with an impressive 3-0 win over Wales, sealing top spot in Group B in the process. Two goals in two minutes just after the break, from Rashford and Foden, killed the contest before Rashford scored again.
That set up a last-16 encounter with the best team in Africa - Senegal. England made very light work of it, a crushing 3-0 win earned courtesy of Jordan Henderson, Harry Kane and Saka.
So they’ve scored 12 times in four games and are bristling with attacking intent. Will it be enough though.
Jude Bellingham teed up Jordan Henderson for England’s opener against Senegal
16:23
A bit of cross-channel political banter…
16:22
A little peek inside the England dressing room
16:20
Neville: Henderson is key to halting Mbappe tonight… so long as he doesn’t push too far forward!
There has been plenty of debate over how best to stop Kylian Mbappe tonight.
One suggestion was for England to go five at the back and double up on the dangerman by playing both Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier.
However, it’s expected that Walker will be the right-back in a four-man defence. That means cover will be needed from one - or more - of the midfielders.
Gary Neville believes that Jordan Henderson will be the key man when it comes to stopping Mbappe because he likes to cut inside to shoot.
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16:11
LATEST - Morocco 1-0 Portugal
A few minutes into the second half in the first of today’s quarter-finals and Portugal have just introduced a certain Cristiano Ronaldo to rescue them.
It remains 1-0 to Morocco.
16:06
FORM GUIDE: Mbappe and Bellingham have been the stars so far… but Lloris could be weak link
There’s no question this is England’s biggest challenge of the World Cup so far but how many of their French opponents tonight are actually in top form.
Sportsmail assessed all the performances in the tournament so far for both sides to see who’s looking the sharper coming into the quarter-final.
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15:58
It’s the ‘biggest booze up since Covid!’ 28 MILLION pints to be sunk today as England fans flock to the pub
Excited England fans are flocking to pubs across the country and in Qatar to sink millions of pints in what is set to be the biggest booze-up since Covid as they roar on Gareth Southgate's Three Lions in the World Cup blockbuster quarter-final 'le crunch' against France.
Some 28million pints will be sunk in drinking holes across Britain today – with another 50million to be supped at home – as millions watch the battle with the French side at the biggest gatherings since before the coronavirus lockdowns.
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15:48
Early team news for France
Rather like England, we’re not expecting too many changes to the France team selected by Didier Deschamps later on.
Kylian Mbappe’s absence from training on Tuesday had us all briefly excited but it turned out he was just doing a recovery session on his own indoors and he has since rejoined full training.
In the last-16 win over Poland, France played a 4-2-3-1 formation with a team as follows: Lloris; Kounde, Varane, Upamecano, Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe; Giroud.
And it could well be identical tonight.
France's head coach Didier Deschamps, left, and Kylian Mbappe arrive for a training session
15:44
GOAL! Morocco 1-0 Portugal - Youssef En Nesyri 42mins
We have a breakthrough goal late in the first-half in our other quarter-final… and it’s gone to Morocco!
It’s a towering header by En Nesyri, who just wanted the ball more than Portugal keeper Diogo Costa as the cross came in.
Ronaldo can scarcely believe it on the bench. Not impressed at all.
15:41
Kyle Walker feared his England career was finished… now he’s the key man in a World Cup quarter-final
JACK GAUGHAN: One cap shy of half a century, Kyle Walker had written his international career off. At 30, and with England’s stable in his position already bursting, he thought that was it.
After more than a year in exile, which included high-profile lockdown indiscretions, Gareth Southgate had brought the Manchester City right back in for a Nations League game in Iceland after strong club form.
Walker saw red for two yellows, the second a needless lunge before England hung on for victory, and he publicly vowed to speak with Southgate about his future in the immediate aftermath. Walker was not alone in wondering whether that was that, with a clamour for others – including, at the time, Aaron Wan Bissaka.
‘I came back, looked through the interview and said, “I can't act like that,”, Walker told Sportsmail earlier this season. ‘When I'm ready to say I'm done, then I'll say I'm done. I'm not letting someone else retire me, I'm going to let someone have a decision to make where you're going to have to pick me.’
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15:35
Plenty of fans of both teams at Souq Waqif earlier on
15:30
Southgate: ‘We can nail this kind of game now’
In his press conference yesterday, Gareth Southgate spoke about how much of this game will come down to England’s mentality.
He believes that the team’s cumulative experience of playing in such big occasions over recent years will put them in a strong position.
"The biggest thing for me in the game is going to be our mentality," the England manager said. "We'll of course be tactically prepared.
"But on these nights you've got to have men that stand up and take on the challenge. That's the bit that we've got to prove to people.
"We've had some outstanding nights and the next game is always the most important. It's against a good level of opponent, one we're ready for. One, if you'd asked me four years ago were we quite ready, I'm not sure.
"Now I feel differently about that, and that's because we've got evidence over a long period of results.
"Historically we have always talked well, but the evidence wasn't there. Now we've got more evidence and we've got to go and nail this type of game now."
15:24
What are the weather conditions like in Qatar?
Hot temperatures were the big fear of many nations coming to the World Cup in Qatar but such has been the thorough preparations and the air-conditioned stadiums, it really hasn’t been an issue.
And it won’t be tonight - there’s actually been some rain in Qatar today and conditions have cooled, meaning it’ll be a very ambient 19C by kick-off, which is at 10pm local time.
That should be comfortable enough for both England and France.
15:21
WORLD CUP CONFIDENTIAL: ‘I’ve always thought this would be his last tournament’ - Martin Samuel on how Gareth Southgate could quit even if England win it all
Whenever England’s tournament ends, whether today or in glory next Sunday, the big question will be whether Gareth Southgate will continue as their manager.
In our latest World Cup Confidential videocast from Qatar, chief sports writer Martin Samuel says he expects Southgate to walk away whatever happens.
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15:15
Where is the game being played?
It’s back to Bayt for England tonight as they play their third game of the tournament at the Al-Bayt Stadium, which is located in Al-Khor, in the north of Qatar and some 50km (31 miles) away from the capital Doha.
The goalless draw against the United States and the 3-0 last-16 win over Senegal were England’s two previous visit to the stadium. France haven’t played there yet.
The arena takes its architectural inspiration from the tents used by the Bedouin peoples and it has a capacity for this tournament of 68,895.
And whoever gets through will be back there for Wednesday night’s semi-final.
A member of the ground staff makes final preparations to the pitch at the Al-Bayt Stadium
15:10
England are set to be unchanged this evening
Plenty of speculation about how England will line up as there usually is but as SAMI MOKBEL reports from Qatar, it’s expected to be the same team that swept aside Senegal in the last-16.
That means sticking with the 4-3-3 system that has served them so well during the tournament so far, instead of reverting to five at the back as Gareth Southgate has done in big games before.
It means Kyle Walker will play as an orthodox right-back and will be tasked with nullifying the threat of Kylian Mbappe.
Jordan Henderson has proved a vital cog in midfield and will be partners by Jude Bellingham, growing in stature and reputation with every passing game, and the workhorse Declan Rice.
Harry Kane, who opened his account against Senegal, will be flanked by Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka.
England expected team (4-3-3): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Henderson, Rice, Bellingham; Foden, Kane, Saka.
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15:03
The World Cup state of play
It’s been a tournament packed with shocks and surprises and that theme certainly continued in yesterday’s quarter-finals.
Who’d have foreseen Brazil, the tournament favourites, being dumped out by doughty Croatia on penalties? But that’s what has happened.
A similar fate nearly befell Argentina, another of those fancied for glory, later in the day after they threw away a two-goal lead against the Netherlands. But they eventually prevailed on spot-kicks.
So it will be Croatia vs Argentina in the first semi-final on Tuesday night.
Today’s two games will determine who meets on Wednesday night. Just getting underway is the quarter-final between Portugal and Morocco and I can tell you the big news is that Cristiano Ronaldo is once again benched.
You can follow that one live by clicking the link below. But our focus will be on building up to England vs France over the next few hours.
15:00
Cry ‘God, for Harry, England and Saint George!’
England expects once again. It’s been described as the final before the final - a little disrespectful to some, perhaps, but if the Three Lions somehow find their way past the defending champions France tonight, the nation will most definitely believe.
It’s the biggest game for the English national team in, well, 16 months - with a place in the World Cup semi-finals at stake.
France have the fear factor. They’ve been here, done it and got the beret. They have Kylian Mbappe, who is capable of terrorising any opponent, and a myriad of other talents all over the pitch.
But England must believe they can beat them today and they will believe they can beat them. They’ve looked better and better as this tournament has progressed, they have a depth of quality that is the envy of all the world.
They have, under Gareth Southgate, become accustomed to the business end of competitions such as this.
It promises to be a wonderful occasion, a thrilling contest. Would I like to call who’s going to win? No, I would not but whoever does may well be the favourites to go all the way.
Welcome along to our live coverage of the World Cup quarter-final between England and France.
English (United States) ·