Chris Boline
- England v France
- Saturday, December 10, 2022, 10:00 ET
- At the Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor
England and France renew an old rivalry in the final quarter final of the 2022 World Cup and the two teams look closely matched.
Who do Bettors Favor?
According to the best-rated online sportsbooks France is the big favorite with bettors to win this game and to progress to the semi-finals. The reigning World Cup champion nation is considered a +140 to +146 chance with the major sportsbooks, while England is a little higher in price at +210. And if you think this game will go to extra time you can back the normal time draw at between +228 and +245.
| England v France |  |  |  |
| England | +212 | +202 | +210 |
| Draw | +231 | +228 | +245 |
| France | +146 | +142 | +140 |
World Cup Quarter-Final Betting Briefing
Not surprisingly, these two neighbors have one of the oldest rivalries in international football. In fact, this will be their 32nd meeting, although only the third time during the World Cup.
Surprisingly, given France’s status as double World Cup winners, England has the better record, with 17 wins to only nine for France, however, ten of those wins came before 1950, and since the turn of the millennium, England has won only one out of seven games.
In the World Cup itself, England has won both of their meetings to date. In 1966 the two teams met in the Group stage and England won 2-0 thanks to goals from Bobby Charlton and Roger Hunt, eventually going on to win the World Cup for the only time in its history.
Their second meeting at the World Cup was in 1982, again in the Group stage, and this win for England was more of an upset. A French team that would go on to win the 1984 European Championship was beaten 3-1 by Ron Greenwood’s England, thanks to goals from Bryan Robson and Paul Mariner.
The last time these nations met in an international tournament, they played out a 1-1 draw at the 2012 Euros but their most recent meeting, at a friendly in Paris, ended in a 3-2 win for France.
England Fulfilling Potential
England’s run to the semi-finals of the last World Cup was a remarkable achievement considering the relatively modest quality of the squad that Gareth Southgate had to work with. Reaching the final of Euro 2020 was another step forward, this time with a squad that included a number of promising young players and now those young players are starting to show signs of fulfilling their potential.
Going into the World Cup, Southgate was the subject of criticism as many pundits and fans thought his cautious tactics were holding back the team. In the tournament itself, however, Southgate has once again shown that his awareness of the strengths and weaknesses of the England players and English football is far clearer sighted than that of his critics.
There are plenty of exciting attacking talents in the England team, but defensively, the options are more limited and Southgate understands the importance of creating a solid foundation for that attacking play. The midfield trio of Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham looks like a powerful combination, and with plenty of attacking options, England is looking like a serious contender.
France Hoping for More from Mbappe
A full-strength France would be stronger favorites for this game, but the absence of key players Paul Pogba, N’golo Kante and Karim Benzema levels the playing field to an extent. It also puts extra pressure on France’s key striker, Kylian Mbappe, who France hopes will deliver once again.
Mbappe is the tournament’s leading scorer and arguably also the player of the World Cup and has thrived in the role that he prefers: playing off a main striker.
If Mbappe was the only star forward in the French team, England’s task would be relatively simple, but he earns his freedom to play from the work done by the other forwards: Ousmane Dembele, Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud: all of them world class players who cannot be ignored.
France has been supremely effective so far in the World Cup, but this is their toughest test and the point in the tournament when it needs its star players to rise to the occasion.
World Cup Quarter-Final Match Betting
France is the favorite here, and their forward line is the more dangerous of the two teams, but England could have the edge in midfield, where the Rice – Henderson – Bellingham combination could take control of the game. The result could be a fascinating and entertaining World Cup quarter final that will offer us plenty of goals, while extra time looks a solid bet.
Best Online Sportsbooks to Bet on the World Cup
Check out the best soccer betting sites below. You can enjoy the most competitive odds with the best World Cup betting sites when you wager with these recommended betting partners.
