England's emphatic 3-0 win over Senegal earned them a 2022 World Cup quarterfinal against holders France, who beat Poland 3-1 in their Round of 16 fixture.
The clash at Al Bayt Stadium is an eye-catching one for neutrals, who have seen the likes of England's Jude Bellingham and France's Kylian Mbappe in superb form so far, as their respective sides topped their groups and cruised through to the knockout stage.
The Three Lions and Les Bleus have been facing off for almost 100 years but rarely have the stakes been as high, with a semifinal against Portugal or Morocco in the offing for Saturday's victors.
Will Didier Deschamps' World Cup-winning experience prove decisive? Or can Gareth Southgate conjour up another England masterclass? The Sporting News delves into the history of England vs France.
MORE: When is England vs France at World Cup? Date, time, early odds for quarterfinal
England vs France history
Despite being close geographically in Europe, England and France have played each other just 11 times in the last three decades, and this period has been the most successful in Les Bleus' history with — two World Cup triumphs coming along the way.
France have won five of their matches against England since the two teams played out a goalless draw in the 1992 European Championships, including a dramatic 2-1 group-stage victory in the 2004 European Championships.
England's only wins over France in their last 10 attempts came in 2015, when goals from Dele Alli and Wayne Rooney clinched a 2-0 friendly victory, and in the 1997 Tournoi de France summer exhibition series.
However, the further back you go into the history between these two teams, the better England's record gets.
England vs France head-to-head
England have won 17 of their 31 international matches against France, dating back to May 1923.
The two teams have met twice in the World Cup, with England winning both encounters: the first a 2-0 victory during England's glorious 1966 campaign, and the second a 3-1 group-stage win over Les Bleus at the 1982 World Cup.
Recent meetings between England and France have largely gone the way of Didier Deschamps' team, with the last competitive fixture a 1-1 draw in the group stage of the 2012 European Championships.
England vs France: Last five meetings
| Date | Competition | Result | Scorers |
| June 13, 2017 | Friendly | France 3 England 2 | Umtiti (22), Sidibe (43), Dembele (78); Kane (9, pen 48) |
| November 17, 2015 | Friendly | England 2 France 0 | Alli (39), Rooney (48) |
| June 11, 2012 | European Championships | France 1 England 1 | Nasri (39); Lescott (30) |
| November 17, 2010 | Friendly | England 1 France 2 | Crouch (86); Benzema (15), Valbuena (55) |
| March 26, 2008 | Friendly | France 1 England 0 | Ribery (pen 32) |
MORE: France's route to World Cup final: Who will Les Bleus face in quarterfinals and beyond?
Last England vs France match
A year before France became World Cup winners for the second time in their history at the 2018 finals, Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele shone in an entertaining 3-2 friendly win over England at Stade de France in Paris.
The match was notable for England for Harry Kane's brace and for the Three Lions' first-ever VAR decision — with referee Davide Massa having his call to award England a penalty confirmed by the video assistant, and Raphael Varane sent off in the process.
England vs France World Cup betting odds
The bookmakers are expecting France to win this game and advance to the semifinals, although England's odds of advancing are shorter than their odds of winning the match itself.
England's success in a penalty shootout against Colombia in the 2018 World Cup quarterfinal helped them to shake off a hoodoo of losing all of their previous three World Cup shootouts.
The Three Lions' clash with France is expected to be a cagey affair, with bookies predicting fewer than 2.5 goals shared between the two teams.
Odds via BetMGM (USA), Sports Interaction (Canada), SkyBet (UK), and Ladbrokes (Australia).
| BetMGM | Sports Interaction | SkyBet | Ladbrokes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England win | +200 | 3.12 | 2/1 | 2/1 |
| Draw | -435 | 3.46 | 9/4 | 2.25/1 |
| France win | -135 | 2.14 | 11/8 | 1.4/1 |
| Both teams to score Y / N | -128 / -111 | 1.74 / 1.87 | 8/11, 1/1 | 0.8/1, 0.95/1 |
| Over / Under 2.5 goals | -102 / -133 | 1.98 / 1.75 | 1/1, 8/11 | 1.05/1, 0.7/1 |
| France -1.5 | +625 | 7.80 | — | — |
| England +1.5 | +280 | 3.75 | — | — |
| England advance | -110 | — | 1/1 | — |
| France advance | +360 | — | 8/11 | — |
