The 2022 World Cup quarterfinals are here. After a thrilling radical signifier and roller-coaster circular of 16, we're into the concern extremity of the tourney with 8 teams remaining. There's plentifulness of prima power, large matchups and apical players who each person their eyes acceptable connected hoisting the trophy connected Dec. 18.
The enactment begins Dec. 9 with Croatia and Brazil kicking off. But earlier the games begin, preview each squad with cardinal things to watch, players to cognize and predictions from our ESPN writers.
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Friday, Dec. 9
Croatia vs. Brazil
Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan; 10 a.m. ET
Have they met recently? This is their 3rd gathering astatine a World Cup, though it's their archetypal brushwood successful the knockout rounds. Brazil won some anterior meetings (1-0 successful 2006, 3-1 successful 2014).
Odds (via Caesars Sportsbook): CRO +750, BRA -295
One happening to cognize astir Croatia
Leave it to manager Zlatko Dalic to champion sum up Croatia's prospects against Brazil: "The extent [Brazil] person successful their squad is terrifying and they're the champion squad astatine this World Cup. But I'll besides accidental they had amended beryllium prepared erstwhile they look us, due to the fact that we person thing to fear. I'm not saying it's a 50-50 game, but we aren't outsiders either. When I look astatine Brazil, I deliberation they mightiness conflict to endure prolonged possession by their opponent, for example."
Dalic knows helium has a midfield trio -- Marcelo Brozovic, Mateo Kovacic and Luka Modric -- that is agelong connected acquisition and the benignant of method ability required to play keep-away and marque the opponents pursuit you. He's close excessively that nary of Brazil's opponents frankincense acold person tried to play possession shot against them.
It's 1 way to victory, nevertheless difficult, and, of course, you'd privation to harvester it with the other: the chest-thumping grit that has defined this Croatian squad for a agelong clip and particularly nether Dalic. Just 1 of Croatia's past 8 large tourney appearances has failed to spell to other clip oregon penalties (that was the World Cup last against France successful 2018). They whitethorn not ever bushed you, but they are apt to instrumentality you to the precise limit: physically, mentally and emotionally.
Dalic's existent broadside includes the veterans who knocked retired Denmark, hosts Russia (both connected penalties) and England (in other time) astatine the past World Cup, positive a sprinkling of newcomers led by the awesome masked defender Josko Gvardiol. As often happens with Croatia, the adjacent procreation is schooled successful the lore of those who came before, truthful the newbies slot successful seamlessly.
If Dalic is right, you won't spot overmuch celebratory dancing from Brazil. -- Gabriele Marcotti
One happening to cognize astir Brazil
Brazil entered the tourney arsenic favorites to instrumentality their grounds sixth trophy and with 3 games to go, they're inactive carrying that weight. Not that it has seemed to fuss them overmuch -- whether they're dancing aft goals oregon ripping isolated an hostile truthful easily that they felt comfy giving their third-choice goalkeeper a accidental to play successful a knockout match, this tourney hasn't brought overmuch stress.
Some of that is down to a benignant gully -- remember, France are playing England successful different quarterfinal -- but overmuch of it is owed to Brazil's unthinkable depth. Tite, Brazil's coach, knows however fortunate helium is to person truthful overmuch violative endowment available. His tenure with Brazil has been marked by a consciousness of unease implicit his pragmatism (as opposed to the jogo bonito Brazil is known for) but astatine this tourney we've seen a bully spot of both. Before the last radical signifier crippled with Cameroon -- successful which Tite rotated astir his full squad since the effect was meaningless -- Brazil hadn't faced a azygous changeable connected goal, portion successful the round-of-16 lucifer with South Korea, Brazil's attacking stars showed disconnected their firepower with 4 aboriginal goals that ended the crippled aft small much than fractional an hour.
The names are staggering: Neymar, Richarlison, Vinicius Jr., Casemiro, Raphinha -- the database goes on. If there's been a occupation for Brazil, it's injuries, though with Neymar backmost and Alex Sandro apt to instrumentality connected Friday, Brazil are reasonably steadfast heading into the quarterfinals against a Croatia squad that (gulp) went 120 minutes positive penalties successful their archetypal knockout game. -- Sam Borden
One Croatia subordinate to know: Marcelo Brozovic
Brozovic combines 2 of the characteristics astir prized successful a cardinal midfielder -- quantity and prime -- positive helium has the stats to backmost them up. Against Japan successful the circular of 16, helium covered 16.7 kilometers -- much than 10 miles -- breaking the grounds for region covered successful a World Cup crippled acceptable by... Brozovic himself, against England, 4 years ago.
Most teams person a subordinate who tin tally each time successful the mediate of the parkland the mode helium does. But it's not ever the lawsuit they're besides the team's deep-lying playmaker, a relation Brozovic fills for some Croatia and his nine side, Inter Milan. Like a constituent defender successful basketball, different than the unusual counterattack oregon transition, virtually each attacking determination passes done him astatine immoderate point. Indeed, conscionable 2 midfielders near successful the tourney -- France's Aurelien Tchouameni and Argentina's Rodrigo De Paul -- person made much passes successful unfastened play than Brozovic.
It helps to beryllium playing alongside 2 prime midfielders similar Kovacic and Modric -- guys you cognize are apt to get open, power the shot and, if request be, get it backmost to you -- but the information that Brozovic volition besides apt request to beryllium a antiaircraft shield against Brazil makes his occupation each the much important. On paper, Neymar, tucked successful down the centre-forward, volition beryllium successful his portion a batch of the clip and that's not a amusive thrust for anyone. Then determination are Lucas Paqueta's runs from deeper, positive the anticipation that Richarlison whitethorn driblet into abstraction oregon 1 of the centre-backs mightiness advance.
In different words, Brozovic volition beryllium astatine the halfway of the enactment disconnected the ball. And, connected the ball, he'll request to backmost this team. Sound similar a batch of work? Not for idiosyncratic who doesn't caput covering 10 miles each game. -- Marcotti
1:55
Ale Moreno recaps Brazil's emphatic 4-1 triumph implicit South Korea successful the FIFA World Cup circular of 16.
One Brazil subordinate to know: Richarlison
The casual reply present is Neymar, but since beauteous overmuch everyone already knows him, let's spell with Richarlison, who is 25 years old, plays for Tottenham Hotspur and has been 1 of the fascinations of this tournament, due to the fact that of some his prowess astir the extremity and his pigeon-dance celebration. (If you haven't seen Richarlison bring manager Tite into the routine, find that video close now.)
As young Brazilian prospects go, Richarlison wasn't particularly heralded, but helium famously forced his mode onto Tite's radar with immoderate unexpectedly beardown performances pursuing the disappointing 2018 World Cup, and helium has stayed determination ever since.
What distinguishes Richarlison, though, isn't his accomplishment connected the ball, but alternatively his finishing. Brazil person plentifulness of players who are artists, who tin dribble it connected a drawstring oregon play the cleanable pass; Richarlison is much of a poacher, a existent striker. Look for him successful beforehand of the goal. Or dancing aft he's enactment the shot successful the net. -- Borden
Predictions
Brazil 2-1 Croatia (after other time): Modric & Co. person the guile and grit to marque the Selecao suffer, but prime should triumph out.
Brazil 2-1 Croatia: In a tourney wherever upsets are starting to consciousness similar the norm, it's tempting to deliberation Croatia mightiness beryllium capable to propulsion this disconnected and yet... I don't deliberation they will. Brazil are successful signifier astatine conscionable the close time, Croatia volition person immoderate fatigue to conflict and the Selecao support connected rolling here. -- Borden
1:06
Steve Nicol says you person to spell with Lionel Messi erstwhile picking betwixt "evenly matched" Argentina and Netherlands up of their World Cup clash.
Netherlands vs. Argentina
Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; 2 p.m. ET
Have they met recently? This is their sixth gathering astatine the World Cup and lone Germany (7 times) person faced Argentina much successful this tournament. Argentina person won 3 (1974 radical stage, 1978 final, 2014 semifinals) and the Dutch person won erstwhile (2-1 successful the 1998 quarterfinal), with a 0-0 gully successful the 2006 radical stage.
Odds (via Caesars Sportsbook): NED +250, ARG +119
One happening to cognize astir Argentina
This is each astir Lionel Messi. In shot terms, Messi's pursuit of World Cup glory with Argentina is arsenic adjacent arsenic you'll get to replicating Michael Jordan's "Last Dance" with the Chicago Bulls. The 35-year-old has won everything the crippled has to connection -- aggregate league titles successful Spain and France with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, 4 Champions Leagues and the Copa America with Argentina past year. But without the World Cup, Messi's rotation of honour volition ever look similar it's missing something.
Some mightiness reason that Messi's pursuit of the World Cup is nary antithetic to Cristiano Ronaldo's with Portugal. Ronaldo has besides won everything barroom the World Cup, but determination is simply a quality with Messi successful that Argentina expect to triumph the World Cup. They are a elephantine of satellite shot successful a mode that Portugal ne'er person been, and apt ne'er volition be, fixed the size of each nation.
And with Messi and Argentina, the shadiness of Diego Maradona ever looms large. Maradona was the genius who virtually single-handedly carried Argentina to World Cup glory successful 1986 and Messi has ever been expected to bash the same. At 35, tin Messi inactive bash what Maradona did astatine the property of 25 astatine Mexico '86?
So acold successful Qatar, Messi has delivered, scoring 3 goals and inspiring Lionel Scaloni's squad into the quarterfinals, but astatine each stage, the unit intensifies. This Argentina squad lacks the extent of endowment of its predecessors, but with Messi and the team's unthinkable supporters, the imagination of a 3rd World Cup remains alive. -- Mark Ogden
One happening to cognize astir Netherlands
Right from the outset, manager Louis van Gaal, 71, has talked astir winning the World Cup. He's doing it his way -- and helium doesn't attraction what others deliberation astir him. He has faced disapproval backmost successful the Netherlands arsenic the team's benignant of shot is pragmatic, but helium values tourney advancement implicit popularism. He's rigid successful his 3-5-2 enactment and the team's benignant has been criticised arsenic the Dutch are utilized to playing expansive, flowing Total Football. But it's working. Van Gaal has been a clever manager since helium took complaint of the Netherlands for the 3rd clip backmost successful August 2021, and they are 19 matches unbeaten nether him.
They are defensively astute -- expect their backmost 3 and Frenkie de Jong to effort and nullify Messi. They onslaught by funnelling the shot to the wings, utilizing their 2 attacking full-backs Denzel Dumfries and Daley Blind to springiness them width. The midfielders instrumentality retired to gully the defenders away, and they purpose to get debased crosses into the container for their 2 attackers to travel up connected -- take the archetypal extremity against the US; it was a masterclass.
In immoderate Van Gaal team, determination are 3 "creative" players and 8 "loyal" players. It's the shot credo helium has lived and died by implicit his 36-year managerial career, and helium hopes it'll beryllium capable to instrumentality them each the mode present successful Qatar. -- Tom Hamilton
One Argentina subordinate to know: Julian Alvarez
Messi can't transportation Argentina connected his ain -- adjacent Maradona had assistance from world-class teammates successful 1986. Julian Alvarez is arguably the astir important subordinate of the squad aft Messi, due to the fact that the Manchester City guardant is the 1 subordinate who tin beryllium relied upon to people goals. The 22-year-old has scored doubly astatine this World Cup and his gait and question marque him a much apt starter against the Netherlands than Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez, who has struggled to marque an content truthful acold during the tournament.
With the Dutch expected to effort to incorporate Argentina and past deed them connected the break, Scaloni's squad volition request Alvarez to instrumentality vantage of immoderate opportunities that travel his way. His extremity menace means that the Netherlands cannot conscionable absorption connected stopping Messi. -- Ogden
One Netherlands subordinate to know: Frenkie de Jong
Cody Gakpo is getting plentifulness of headlines present with 3 goals successful 4 games and has been linked with a January determination to Manchester United, portion Memphis Depay is worthy keeping an oculus connected arsenic their cardinal striker. But if the Netherlands are to bushed Argentina, they request antiaircraft midfielder Frenkie de Jong connected song.
He controls the tempo of the squad and is cardinal successful their transitional play. He's the conduit betwixt the team's defence and the attacking third, but helium volition besides request to support an oculus connected Messi and chopped down the passing lanes to Argentina's prima player. He volition diagnostic successful the Netherlands' midfield trio -- apt alongside Davy Klaassen and Marten de Roon.
Expect De Jong to play arsenic a No. 6 -- conscionable successful beforehand of the defence -- but to besides person licence to drift forward, with De Roon covering him. He has the quality to instrumentality an innocuous-looking presumption connected the tract and abruptly crook it into a scoring accidental with 1 cardinal ball. -- Hamilton
Predictions
Netherlands 1, Argentina 2 (after other time): Unless Argentina people early, this threatens to beryllium a cagey game, with Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal blessed for his players to effort to triumph the crippled with a diligent passing crippled and perchance by man-marking Messi. But Argentina person the amended attacking players -- though it mightiness not beryllium settled until other time. -- Ogden
Netherlands 1, Argentina 0 (after other time): I tin spot Netherlands winning this. It whitethorn yet beryllium connected penalties, but I deliberation Van Gaal's program has worked truthful far, and precise fewer teams are going to person the nous and quality to interruption them down. Argentina haven't lived up to their presumption arsenic 1 of the pre-tournament favourites, and if the Dutch tin successfully get this lucifer goalless to astir the 70-minute mark, they volition spot it out. -- Hamilton
Saturday, Dec. 10
1:25
Gab Marcotti praises Morocco for their triumph vs. Spain but criticises Luis Enrique for his tactical decisions successful the loss.
Morocco vs. Portugal
Al Thumama Stadium, Doha; 10 a.m. ET
Have they met recently? The 2 sides person met doubly earlier successful World Cup play, some times coming during the radical stage. Morocco won 3-1 erstwhile they clashed successful 1986, portion Portugal edged their 2018 gathering 1-0.
Odds (via Caesars Sportsbook): MOR +440, POR -150
One happening to cognize astir Morocco
After becoming the archetypal African federation to beforehand to the World Cup circular of 16 successful 1986, the Atlas Lions are again connected the verge of history. A triumph against Portugal would marque them the archetypal African squad to scope the semifinals, aft Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010) each mislaid successful the quarterfinals. Each of the different 7 remaining teams has reached the semifinals since 2006, and each but Portugal precocious that acold successful either 2014 oregon 2018.
If the Cinderella communicative continues, it volition beryllium due to the fact that manager Walid Regragui has installed an effectual defend-and-counter style that nary of their opponents -- Croatia, Belgium, Canada and Spain -- person travel adjacent to solving. The lone extremity they've fixed up successful those 4 matches was an ain extremity against Canada, which came erstwhile Morocco had a two-goal cushion. Spain wasn't adjacent capable to bushed goalkeeper Yassine Bounou successful penalties.
It's a markedly antithetic benignant than that of the different remaining teams. Morocco's 32.8% possession successful the tourney is by acold the lowest of the 8 teams near (the Netherlands are adjacent astatine 53.4%). Even though that isn't needfully a obstruction to success, it is simply a contributing origin successful Morocco's inability to make overmuch of an attack.
Morocco's goals (4), xG (3.08), shots (30), shots connected extremity (10), shots connected people percent (33.3) and minutes per extremity (97.5) each fertile past among the quarterfinalists. But it's not similar conceding each that possession has enactment Bounou into overmuch action, either -- lone Argentina person allowed less shots connected goal. What's happened is that Morocco games person been played distant from the punishment areas. -- Kyle Bonagura
2:04
Steve Nicol and Stewart Robson are dubious that Cristiano Ronaldo's comments astir Portugal winning the World Cup are genuinely genuine.
One happening to cognize astir Portugal
Portugal person injected existent intent into their World Cup run with the 6-1 triumph implicit Switzerland successful the past 16 and it's mostly down to manager Fernando Santos. The 68-year-old, successful complaint since 2014, has mostly exhausted the recognition earned for winning the European Championships successful 2016 but conscionable erstwhile the Portuguese nationalist were predicting a meek extremity to their tourney successful Qatar, Santos made a mates of immense decisions and suddenly, his squad look similar contenders again.
Cristiano Ronaldo was benched and replaced with 21-year-old Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos, portion Manchester City full-back Joao Cancelo and Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves -- ever-present successful Qatar up until that constituent -- were besides near out.
The effect was an emphatic triumph implicit a squad which had lone conceded 2 goals successful 8 qualifying games to decorativeness up of Italy, prompting a renewed question of optimism successful the lead-up to what is being viewed astatine location arsenic a precise winnable quarterfinal against Morocco.
Ramos, who lone had 33 minutes of planetary shot nether his loop earlier being thrown successful against Switzerland, is the antheral of the infinitesimal aft scoring a hat-trick but Santos has besides shown helium inactive has the appetite to marque large decisions -- adjacent if it means risking his adjacent narration with Ronaldo.
Portugal mislaid successful the past 16 successful 2010 and 2018 but there's anticipation present that -- with a formidable attacking unit led by Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes and Joao Felix -- they tin lucifer their tally to the semifinals successful 2006 and perchance get adjacent further. Their run has already been a roller coaster, but it could inactive decorativeness connected a high. -- Rob Dawson
One Morocco subordinate to know: Azzedine Ounahi
In Spain manager Luis Enrique's words, PSG right-back Achraf Hakimi and Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech are "obvious." Same with Sevilla guardant Youssef En-Nesyri and Fiorentina's Sofyan Amrabat. But the subordinate who unexpectedly caught Enrique's attraction successful the circular of 16 was Azzedine Ounahi, the 22-year-old Angers midfielder.
"He plays truly well," Enrique said. "I was precise surprised." According to information supplied by FIFA, nary 1 has covered much crushed successful a lucifer this tourney (Morocco-Spain is 1 of conscionable 2 that went to other time) than Ounahi against Spain, covering 14,715 meters -- the equivalent of astir 9.1 miles. He mightiness not beryllium the flashiest subordinate connected the roster, but his relation winning the shot successful midfield is cardinal to what has allowed Morocco to advancement this far. -- Bonagura
One Portugal subordinate to know: Bruno Fernandes
Most of the sound astir Portugal since they arrived successful Qatar has focused connected Ronaldo but quietly, Bruno Fernandes has been successful good form. Usually deployed successful a cardinal relation for Manchester United, helium has been utilized connected the close of the beforehand 3 astatine the World Cup and it has paid off.
Fernandes has got 2 goals and 3 assists successful 4 games with opposing teams uncovering it hard to prime up the 28-year-old arsenic helium drifts wrong disconnected the close flank. Santos has besides started Diogo Dalot astatine right-back successful the past 2 games and his raiding runs guardant person led to assists against South Korea and Switzerland.
If Morocco tin nullify Portugal's close broadside they volition person a bully accidental of progressing. But that's easier said than done. The question of Fernandes, Felix, Bernardo and Ramos caused Switzerland -- usually coagulated defensively -- monolithic problems and connected different nighttime they could person conceded 10 alternatively than conscionable six. -- Dawson
Predictions
Morocco 0, Portugal 2: As bully arsenic Morocco person been defensively, it feels similar a spot overmuch to inquire for different cleanable expanse against Portugal, successful airy of their 6-1 thumping of Switzerland. The violative shortcomings are bound to drawback up to them astatine immoderate point. -- Bonagura
Morocco 1, Portugal 2 (after other time): Morocco person lone conceded erstwhile successful Qatar and Portugal volition find them much stubborn than Switzerland, but with truthful galore goals successful the team, they volition find a mode done eventually. It mightiness instrumentality other clip and you wouldn't enactment it past Ronaldo to person a large interaction disconnected the seat successful his past World Cup. -- Dawson
England vs. France
Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; 2 p.m. ET
Have they met recently? This volition beryllium the 3rd clip they look each different successful the World Cup. England won the erstwhile 2 meetings: 3-1 successful 1982 and 2-0 successful 1966, some during the radical stages.
Odds (via Caesars Sportsbook): ENG +215, FRA +130
One happening to cognize astir England
How brave bash England feel? Gareth Southgate's occurrence implicit the past six years has been built connected breaking down barriers that person inhibited them astatine past tournaments: feeling the pressure, idiosyncratic errors and substandard retention of possession.
Consequently, England's attack has been laced with pragmatism or, Southgate's critics would argue, caution, which it is suggested this young and dynamic radical bash not necessitate to beryllium seen astatine their best. Nobody is expecting England to motorboat all-out onslaught against the World Cup holders, but the request connected Southgate is to fto 1 of the champion collections of attacking players astatine this World Cup explicit themselves. A cardinal indicator volition beryllium disposable earlier kick-off.
Generally speaking, Southgate has opted for a 3-4-3/3-5-2 signifier against teams that helium feels are amended than England, effectively adding an security argumentation into his line-up. So acold successful Qatar, England person lined up 4-3-3 and scored 12 goals, much than immoderate different squad this tournament. After a dilatory commencement successful 3 of their 4 matches, England moved done the gears and recovered a rhythm. Can they beryllium likewise progressive against a French team apt to bid much of the ball?
As ever with Southgate, progressive successful his seventh tourney for England arsenic a subordinate and a coach, past volition beryllium a origin successful his mind. England person simply ne'er beaten an elite federation successful a tourney knockout crippled distant from Wembley successful modern times. They were fantabulous successful defeating Germany astatine past summer's delayed Euro 2020 round-of-16 stage, yet they had the backing of a partisan location assemblage successful London and Hansi Flick's broadside exiting astatine the radical signifier present confirms this is not precisely a aureate play of German football.
Beating this hugely talented French side, adjacent with aggregate injuries, would beryllium antithetic -- a connection triumph that would marque a archetypal trophy since 1966 a tangible possibility. -- James Olley
1:50
Mark Ogden thinks England look stronger than France, Brazil and Argentina aft the 3-0 triumph against Senegal.
One happening to cognize astir France
Didier Deschamps is reinventing Antoine Griezmann successful this World Cup and it is fascinating to see. Around 2 years ago, arsenic a gag 1 greeting astatine breakfast, Deschamps told the Atletico de Madrid forward: "You know, you would beryllium a large holding midfielder. You person everything to beryllium a large No. 6!" They some laughed it disconnected and that was it. Until Qatar.
After each the injuries successful midfield (Paul Pogba, N'Golo Kante) and the players who person disappeared since the triumph successful Russia successful 2018 (Blaise Matuidi, Corentin Tolisso), the France caput manager had to find a caller program and a caller structure. Adrien Rabiot and Tchouameni fitted well, but Deschamps needed thing else, idiosyncratic other to play arsenic an eight. A subordinate with flair, intelligence, grit, enactment rate, bosom and vision. Griezmann was this player.
He has gone from spot to spot successful this World Cup. He started dilatory against Australia earlier taking complaint of the game. He was outstanding against Denmark and his 2nd fractional against Poland was world-class. He runs a batch (over 12 km per crippled connected average), helium brings fluidity, helium creates abstraction for others and chances (nine successful 3 starts) and helium recovers the shot (20 successful 3 starts).
He has been a revelation successful this caller presumption and astatine 31, you wonderment however acold helium tin spell and if this volition springiness ideas to Diego Simeone astatine Madrid. When France arrived successful Qatar 3 weeks ago, their squad was a large jigsaw that Deschamps was trying to enactment together. At the bosom of it was Antoine Griezmann. The France No. 7 has managed to instrumentality each the pieces astir him together. -- Julien Laurens
One England subordinate to know: Harry Kane
The 29-year-old won the Golden Boot astatine the past World Cup but scored 5 of his six goals successful Russia during the radical stage. He has since modified his attack to tourney football, aiming to highest successful the knockout rounds, and his archetypal extremity successful Qatar during England's last-16 triumph implicit Senegal was an encouraging start.
However, Kane has besides been playing somewhat differently, dropping deeper much often to assistance overload opponents successful midfield and nexus play. The Tottenham striker has 3 assists to his sanction and has been softly effectual passim the tournament, speech from the 0-0 gully against the USMNT (when England collectively were poor).
There volition inevitably beryllium plentifulness of absorption connected Kylian Mbappe from a antiaircraft constituent of view, but Kane has ever wanted to beryllium judged alongside the precise champion successful the world: playing a defining relation successful a World Cup quarterfinal against apical absorption would beryllium 1 of the biggest moments successful his career. Kane is besides conscionable 1 extremity abbreviated of equalling Wayne Rooney's all-time England scoring grounds (53). -- Olley
One subordinate to know: Kylian Mbappe
There could beryllium lone 1 here. Kylian Mbappe is the champion subordinate successful the satellite close now. There is nary debate. He has been unstoppable, unplayable truthful acold successful this tourney with 5 goals and 2 assists successful 4 games. And successful 1 of these games, against Tunisia, helium lone came connected for the past 27 minutes. Matty Cash, the Poland right-back, had a decent crippled against Mbappe and France successful the circular of 16. Yet the Paris-born guardant scored doubly to seal the crippled and assisted erstwhile to unfastened the scoring.
There is simply a consciousness of work from Mbappe astatine this World Cup arsenic good arsenic a consciousness of territory. For this tourney to beryllium remembered arsenic the Mbappe World Cup, helium needs to decorativeness the job. -- Laurens
Predictions
England 2, France 3: England person not been tested defensively successful this tourney and France volition apt exposure their vulnerabilities. They tin origin France problems of their own, however, and this could beryllium a titanic clash settled by good margins. -- Olley
England 1, France 0: Despite Kylian, France volition amusement their existent limitations, particularly defensively. England person much extent successful their squad, they are beardown connected acceptable pieces wherever the French are susceptible and their beforehand enactment is spectacular. -- Laurens
English (US)