France 2-1 England: What's your prediction?

All eyes will be on Kylian Mbappe once again as France take on England in a mouthwatering World Cup quarter-final clash but the defending champions must hope their lack of options from the bench will not be exposed tonight.

Les Bleus are looking to become the first team to retain the title since Brazil in 1958-1962.

Mbappe has been on fire in Qatar, with five goals and two assists, while Olivier Giroud has provided three goals, but they have yet to come up against a world-class team.

One of the strengths that has emerged through the tournament is England's depth.

Manager Gareth Southgate has been able to shuffle his midfield and wide attackers more than in previous tournaments and just about all of them have delivered.

Their tally of 12 goals – equalling their World Cup best set from three more matches in 2018 – has been achieved via eight players.

While the goalscorers grab the headlines, Southgate made sure he complimented his defenders after the last 16 match as his side chalked up a third successive World Cup clean sheet for the first time in 20 years.

When?

11th December, Sunday, 01:00 am, Bangladesh time

Where?

Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, Qatar

Head-to-head

Matches 31

France 9

England 17

Draw 5

Previous meetings:

* England hold the upper hand over 31 previous meetings, with 17 wins compared to France's nine, but 10 of those victories were before 1950. England have lost four times and won twice this century.

* The teams have met twice at World Cups, with England winning on both occasions - 2-0 in 1966 group stage en route to winning their only title and 3-1 in 1982, when they were eliminated in the second group stage.

Probable lineups:

France: (4-2-3-1) Lloris; Kounde, Varane, Upamecano, T. Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Dembele, Greizmann, Mbappe; Giroud.

England: (4-3-3) Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Henderson, Rice, Bellingham; Saka, Kane, Foden.

Key stats:

* England have scored 12 goals in four games at this year's World Cup - the joint most at a single major tournament, level with their 2018 World Cup run when they reached the semi-finals.

* Kylian Mbappe has scored five times in four games, surpassing his goal tally from his previous appearance in the tournament in 2018, when France won the World Cup.

* Harry Kane overtook Gary Lineker as England's all-time top scorer at major tournaments, with his goal against Senegal taking his tally to 11. With 52 goals for England, he is one behind Wayne Rooney's all-time record.

* France are the first reigning champions to reach the World Cup quarter-finals since Brazil in 2006. Spain and Germany suffered group-stage exits in 2014 and 2018.