BBC pundit and former England striker Alan Shearer has explained how Gareth Southgate’s side will have an advantage over France in their World Cup quarter-final on Saturday. Following the two sides’ victories over Senegal and Poland, the final eight tie has been billed as a potential final ahead of the final as England and France are two of the favourites to win the tournament.
Both Southgate and Didier Deschamps’ sides have been impressive performers in Qatar, coming through their round of 16 ties with relative ease. Kylian Mbappe scored twice and set up another as he starred in the French’s victory on Sunday, but while he is the tournament’s top scorer Shearer believes England cannot afford to only focus on the Paris Saint-Germain man.
Shearer highlighted Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele and Olivier Giroud as three other stars that could cause England’s defence problems. The Newcastle legend gushed over the French forward line, though pointed out that France’s willingness to cross to Giroud could play into the hands of centre-backs Harry Maguire and John Stones.
“What France do, they are not afraid to put balls into the box for him [Giroud],” Shearer said at half-time of Croatia’s clash with Japan. “He decides. Dembele and Mbappe, they will move the ball out one yard and then whip that ball in for him. I think that should actually suit us, because our players are used to that.
“Look at what they have done in forward positions, the goals that they have scored and the goals that have been shared around. It’s not just Mbappe to worry about by the way, because I have been to two of France’s games.
“Griezmann has played really, really well. Really well. Obviously there’s Mbappe, Giroud has got the France record, he has taken over from Thierry Henry, perhaps might not get as much love as he deserves.”
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Maguire and Stones came through an unsettling opening 30 minutes against Senegal where the African side’s press caused the duo problems, but ultimately they were able to record a clean sheet after smart stops by Jordan Pickford in the first half. It is the third clean sheet the Three Lions have recorded in a row, after conceding twice to Iran in their opening game.
There have been calls for Southgate to move away from the successful four-at-the-back shape to a back three in order to better defend against Mbappe. A switch would likely see Kyle Walker join Stones and Maguire on the right side of a back three, and Kieran Trippier line up as a wing-back as the two right-backs can double-up on Mbappe.
Southgate faces a selection dilemma as a midfielder would likely make way if Tripper was to be introduced into the team, as Jordan Henderson and Jude Bellingham were both praised for their performances in the victory over Senegal.
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