England vs France World Cup lineup, confirmed starting 11 for quarterfinal match at Qatar 2022

Contributor
Kyle Bonn
England vs France World Cup lineup, confirmed starting 11 for quarterfinal match at Qatar 2022 image

England and France meet in a heavyweight quarter-final bout as the 2022 World Cup gets an early final-worthy matchup. 

LIVE: Follow England vs. France updates from the World Cup

Either side will be disappointed to exit the tournament at this stage, as 2018 world champions France and Euro 2020 finalists England will both have realistic ambitions of lifting the trophy.

Gareth Southgate and Didier Deschamps arguably have the two most talented player pools to call upon in Qatar, with France's depth even making light of a pre-tournament injury crisis as they continue their pursuit of back-to-back titles.

Below are the projected lineups for both teams based on the latest news leading up to the match.

MORE: How to watch England vs. France in World Cup action across the globe

England vs France lineups, team news

After getting to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, where they lost after extra-time against Croatia, and enduring a penalty shoot-out defeat to Italy in the Euro 2020 final, England are ready to try and scale the mountain once more.

"In terms of our experiences those big matches are important reference points for the team," Southgate said.

"There have been some defeats that hurt that prepare you for nights like tomorrow, where you have to be the very best version of yourself. We are ready to fight France for that place in the semi-finals."

Much of the pre-game focus has rested upon Kylian Mbappe, who has surged clear in the Golden Boot stakes with five goals. But Deschamps insists Les Bleus will have to call upon the full complement of their talents to overcome a fine England side.

“Kylian has this capacity to make the difference," he said. "In the last game [when he scored twice in a 3-1 win over Poland], he wasn’t at his best but he was still decisive. Spreading the danger for our opponents will avoid the focus being on him.

“Gareth Southgate is not especially appreciated or valued in his country. Just because he’s been a player previously doesn’t mean he can’t be a very good manager. He’s had some good results. On a human level, he’s someone I like a lot.”

Below are the starting lineups for both teams ahead of their match at Al Bayt Stadium on Saturday, December 10.

Phil Foden Gareth Southgate
Getty Images

England confirmed starting 11

(4-3-3, right to left): 1. Pickford (GK) — 2. Walker, 5. Stones, 6. Maguire, 3. Shaw — 8. Henderson, 4. Rice, 22. Bellingham — 17. Saka, 9. Kane, 20. Foden.

  • Injured: Callum Wilson.
  • Suspended: None.

England named an unchanged starting side and are the the only team in the World Cup field yet to earn a yellow card, so with accumulation wiped heading into the semi-finals, the Three Lions do not have any players who could earn an accumulation suspension should they advance.

Raheem Sterling, who travelled home to care for his family after a burglary at his residence, returned to the squad.

France confirmed starting 11

(4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. Lloris (GK) — 5. Kounde, 4. Varane, 18. Upamecano, 22. T. Hernandez — 8. Tchouameni, 14. Rabiot — 11. Dembele, 7. Greizmann, 10. Mbappe — 9. Giroud.

  • Injured: Lucas Hernandez.
  • Suspended: None.

France also named an unchanged side. Only Lucas Hernandez was no longer available from the final France roster, having torn his ACL in the opening match, but his brother Theo Hernandez has filled in impressively at left-back and has been one of France's best performers.

Jules Kounde and Aurelien Tchouameni are the two French players on yellow cards, and would be suspended for the semi-finals should they pick up another and the Bleus advance.

England vs France World Cup squads

Here are the names on the current England and France World Cup squads in Qatar. (Caps and stats correct as of start of the tournament).

England World Cup squad

PositionPlayerClubAgeCaps
GoalkeeperJordan PickfordEverton (ENG)2845
GoalkeeperNick PopeNewcastle United (ENG)3010
GoalkeeperAaron RamsdaleArsenal (ENG)243
DefenderTrent Alexander-ArnoldLiverpool (ENG)2417
DefenderConor CoadyEverton (ENG)2910
DefenderEric DierTottenham (ENG)2847
DefenderHarry MaguireManchester United (ENG)2948
DefenderLuke ShawManchester United (ENG)2723
DefenderJohn StonesManchester City (ENG)2859
DefenderKieran TrippierNewcastle United (ENG)3237
DefenderKyle WalkerManchester City (ENG)3270
DefenderBen White*Arsenal (ENG)254
MidfielderJude BellinghamBorussia Dortmund (GER)1917
MidfielderConor GallagherChelsea (ENG)224
MidfielderJordan HendersonLiverpool (ENG)3270
MidfielderMason MountChelsea (ENG)2332
MidfielderKalvin PhillipsManchester City (ENG)2623
MidfielderDeclan RiceWest Ham United (ENG)2334
ForwardJames MaddisonLeicester City (ENG)251
ForwardCallum WilsonNewcastle (ENG)304
ForwardPhil FodenManchester City (ENG)2118
ForwardJack GrealishManchester City (ENG)2724
ForwardHarry KaneTottenham (ENG)2975
ForwardMarcus RashfordManchester United (ENG)2446
ForwardBukayo SakaArsenal (ENG)2120
ForwardRaheem SterlingManchester City (ENG)2779

*No longer with the squad in Qatar

France World Cup squad

PositionPlayerClubAgeCaps
GoalkeeperAlphonse AreolaWest Ham (ENG)295
GoalkeeperHugo LlorisTottenham (ENG)35139
GoalkeeperSteve MandandaRennes (FRA)3734
DefenderAxel DisasiMonaco (FRA)240
DefenderLucas Hernandez**Bayern Munich (FRA)2632
DefenderTheo HernandezAC Milan (ITA)257
DefenderIbrahima KonateLiverpool (ENG)232
DefenderJules KoundeBarcelona (SPA)2312
DefenderBenjamin PavardBayern Munich (GER)2646
DefenderWilliam SalibaArsenal (ENG)217
DefenderDayot UpamecanoBayern Munich (GER)237
DefenderRaphael VaraneManchester United (ENG)2987
MidfielderEduardo CamavingaReal Madrid (SPA)194
MidfielderYoussouf FofanaAS Monaco (FRA)232
MidfielderMatteo GuendouziMarseille (FRA)236
MidfielderAdrien RabiotJuventus (ITA)2729
MidfielderAurelien TchouameniReal Madrid (SPA)2214
MidfielderJordan VeretoutMarseille (FRA)295
ForwardOusmane DembeleBarcelona (FRA)2528
ForwardKingsley ComanBayern Munich (GER)2640
ForwardOlivier GiroudAC Milan (ITA)36114
ForwardAntoine GriezmannAtletico Madrid (SPA)31110
ForwardKylian MbappePSG (FRA)2359
ForwardMarcus ThuramBor. M'Gladbach (GER)254
ForwardRandal Kolo MuaniMonaco (FRA)232

**Will miss the rest of the tournament through injury