3 individual battles that will decide England vs France

England and France is the pick of the 2022 World Cup quarterfinals. The defending champions are looking to repeat the triumph of 2018. Meanwhile, England are hoping to complete its five-year journey.

Given the intense quality in both teams, fans are excited about the individual battles likely to take place between England and France.

For Gareth Southgate, he simply has to find a way to limit Kylian Mbappé’s effectiveness. The Paris Saint-Germain forward is the best player in the world at this moment. You can’t necessarily stop him in his current form. But, if you can isolate him and limit his work to wide areas, you give yourself a chance.

Individual battles deciding England vs France

1. Kyle Walker vs Kylian Mbappé

England don’t have a chance of reaching the semifinal if Mbappé is allowed to dominate Saturday’s game.

He is the quickest player on the pitch and the most clinical finisher in the world. To stop that, you need your quickest defender.

Kyle Walker has been struggling for fitness of late. He missed the opening game against Iran. However, he did return later in the group stage.

At his best, Walker is physically imposing, athletic and an attacking threat. His defensive judgement can be questioned, but if positioned alongside confident central defenders, that can be accepted.

Mbappé needs to be isolated. If he is able to run Walker ragged and cut inside at John Stones/Harry Maguire, England are in trouble.

Walker needs to use his pace to shackle the French forward and force Les Bleus to create from other areas.

2. Jude Bellingham vs Adrien Rabiot

Jude Bellingham has been England’s standout performer in Qatar. His poise and balance in midfield are spectacular. What has made him even more valuable to Southgate is the balance he gives the midfield.

His complete arsenal allows Declan Rice and Jordan Henderson to focus on defensive duties. This will be needed against France.

Rabiot is the clear weak point in France’s midfield. Didier Deschamps likely does not feature the Juventus player if his squad is fully healthy.

If England are to be able to dominate the French, it will come through Bellingham. He can make Rabiot’s life miserable on Saturday.

He doesn’t have the pace to keep up with him and all the Juventus midfielder has at his disposal is either fouling the Dortmund star or passing him onto Aurelien Tchouameni.

3. Olivier Giroud vs Harry Maguire

Kylian Mbappe loves playing with Olivier Giroud. He has lobbied PSG to try copy the French system and utilize a player in Giroud’s style.

France’s attacks depend a lot on the work Giroud does off the ball and at set-pieces.

Harry Maguire has played well at the 2022 World Cup, despite losing his place at Manchester United.

The England defender does not have top-notch pace. Yet, Giroud is not exactly an F1 car, either. The pair will engage in a physical battle on Saturday.

If Maguire can bully Giroud, outmuscle him and stop him holding the ball up and bringing Mbappe into play then France’s attack will have been blunted.

Would it be worth Maguire taking up a man-marking role on Giroud and Rice slipping into a defensive position? Perhaps. Although it’s unlikely Southgate will introduce such a drastic tactical change.

Giroud is a finisher of the highest caliber. If he gets free in England’s penalty area then he will score. Maguire’s best asset is his close-quarters defending. He can be physical and stop attackers from finding space.

If Maguire can do that then it will make it all the more difficult for France to reach the semi-finals.

PHOTO: IMAGO / Xinhua