- France have won 8 of their last 10 matches in all competitions and have scored 23 goals in that run.
- The Three Lions have won 7 of their last 10, averaging 1.80 goals scored and 0.90 conceded.
- Kylian Mbappe has scored 4 times in 4 appearances in the FIFA World Cup knockout stages for France, while Jude Bellingham has 4 in 4 for England.
Miami clash should be a classic affair
France had the edge when these two giants of world football met in the FIFA World Cup knockout stage three years ago, edging England 2-1. There are a couple of reasons to expect a much livelier affair when Didier Deschamps' men take on the Three Lions on Saturday.
Deschamps has been in charge since 8 July 2012 and his France are still largely set up to be pragmatic, explosive and dangerous in transition - perfect for knockout football. England have more of a structure under Thomas Tuchel, who has been in place since 1 January 2025. He sets up his team in a 4-2-3-1 system and prefers to control the game through the pivot and the likes of Bellingham in the number 10 role, but there is still enough quality and guile to play on the break and hurt teams when they over-commit.
The Three Lions average 1.80 goals scored and 0.90 goals conceded across their last 10 all-competition matches and there is certainly scope for an end-to-end game when two evenly-matched sides meet. England's recent matches have seen four wins and one defeat and France's last 5 World Cup knockout matches read 4-1, so we're backing a goal fest with both sides to score (B) at 63/100 and a 2-1 France win at 69/50.
Mbappe can make the difference
As previously mentioned, both Deschamps and Tuchel have made their mark on the teams but France are far more used to the pressure that comes with these big, big games. Deschamps' team will sit compact, then look to break with vertical passes and pace in the channels - namely Mbappe, who has 4 of France's 9 goals across their last 5 games and is their biggest threat.
England's top scorer is Bellingham with 4 in 4 in the World Cup knockout stage, which has been a godsend for Tuchel as he has no longer needed to rely on Harry Kane to carry the team through this phase. Kane has 4 goals in England's last 5 matches, though, and his finishing ability should give England a puncher's chance in what could be a tightly contested clash. Anthony Gordon has 3 assists in the same 5 games and can supply the pacey options for England, particularly when up against a side that will sit deep in the second half.
Backing the overs should make the best play for this game, with France to edge a tight but entertaining affair in Miami Stadium.
