The English European vice-champions and the French world champions both arrived in Qatar escorted by doubt with a similar record of only two "clean sheets" (no goals conceded) in eight matches so far played in 2022.

This prompted Didier Deschamps to abandon his system of five defenders (three axial and two side players), judging his team "in difficulty" and "very often out of balance".

The return to four behind, as in 2018, was thwarted by the withdrawals of Presnel Kimpembe and Lucas Hernandez, two expected starters.

But the coach has not changed his plans and the success is mixed.

In Doha, the Blues conceded a goal in each game.

They can fear the blows of the Three Lions, twelve goals in four matches, carried by the striker Harry Kane and players who "go very quickly on the sides, like Phil Foden, Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling (uncertain because returned to England for family reasons, Editor's note)", according to assistant coach Guy Stéphan.

Mbappé-Walker duel

"We will have to block the corridors indeed, but for them too", nuanced Olivier Giroud, center forward in great shape (three goals) supported by the always restless Ousmane Dembélé (two assists) on the right and the very clinical Kylian Mbappé (five goals, two "assists") on the left.

So far, England have conceded very few clean chances and only two goals, against Iran (6-2) after leading 4-0.

His John Stones-Harry Maguire hinge generally holds up despite the doubts, and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is better than with Everton.

However, the level of the opponents (United States, Wales and Senegal) can relativize the three consecutive matches without a goal conceded.

This time, Mbappé will have to be tackled and Gareth Southgate's response to this threat is eagerly awaited.

England have a defender in their squad capable of rivaling Mbappé in pure speed in the person of Kyle Walker, who had already held him at bay when Manchester City faced Paris SG in the Champions League.

Kylian Mbappé, on the right, in the fight with Kyle Walker during the Champions League match between PSG and Manchester City on November 24, 2021 at the Etihad Stadium © Paul ELLIS / AFP / Archives

"I have to take it like in all matches, respecting it as it deserves but without respecting it too much (...) The match is not England against Mbappé, it's England against France. France," warned the Citizen on Wednesday.

Tactical choice

Facing the Blues, however, the temptation to refocus Walker exists to save face-to-face Mbappé / Stones.

The latter, usually right axial, would slip into the center of a defensive line with three central defenders.

This tactical option is regularly used against high caliber teams, as Guy Stéphan noticed, but it earned Southgate a flood of criticism when he used it in the Euro-2021 final lost against Italy. in shots on goal.

The boss of the Three Lions buried her since the start of the competition, to the delight of the supporters.

But it would allow the addition of Kieran Trippier, or even Bukayo Saka as a right piston, for possible two-ups on Mbappé, the current best artificer in the tournament, scorer in each of his tenures.

The beautiful English mechanics could however experience failures in this case.

Above all, Southgate should sacrifice one of the midfielders between Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham and Jordan Henderson (most likely the latter), while this triplet has been excellent so far and one of the bases of English defensive solidity.

Phil Foden (right) hugs Jude Bellingham (centre) and Declan Rice after scoring against Wales on November 29, 2022 at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha © INA FASSBENDER / AFP/Archives

England also know that being obsessed with Mbappé would be dangerous against a team that also has Antoine Griezmann, Giroud or Dembélé, another arrow that Luke Shaw and especially Maguire, often clumsy, will have to master.

"We don't just think of Mbappé. He's a weapon in their arsenal which is very good, but they have other very good players who we cannot underestimate, who have won major titles and a World Cup," admitted Walker.

In the meantime, Gérard Soler is still waiting for his successor.

The former striker of Sochaux, Bordeaux and Toulouse among others is the only Frenchman to have scored against the English in the World Cup, in 1982 (3-1 defeat).

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© 2022 AFP