France vs England: Lineups, Prediction, Betting Tips & Odds

France vs England Match Summary

Two of the biggest names in world football meet in the third-place play-off as France take on England at Miami Stadium, a heavyweight clash to close out the World Cup for both.

Les Bleus arrive smarting after a dreadful semi-final display against Spain ended their title dream. Even so, the home side heads in at 1.95 to win

England were seconds from a first World Cup final in 60 years before a late collapse against Argentina, and now the away side must lift themselves for a play-off nobody truly wants to be in.

France have beaten England in their last two meetings, most recently 2-1 in the 2022 quarter-finals, and remain undefeated in their last five home matches against the Three Lions.

France vs England Form

France have been ruthless on this run, landing the win in eight of their last 10 outings, including a 3-0 hammering of Sweden and a 4-1 win away in Norway. Only Spain and a draw in Iceland have blotted the copybook. Kylian Mbappé remains the heartbeat, having scored or assisted in six of his last seven World Cup appearances.

England match that eight wins from 10 record, with a 5-0 rout in Latvia and a 4-2 win over Croatia showing the firepower. The engine room runs through Jude Bellingham, while Harry Kane, who has netted in three of his last five World Cup outings, still leads the line for a side beaten by Argentina.

France vs England Lineups & Team News

Injuries & Suspensions

France: William Saliba (Injured/out)

England: Declan Rice (Injured/doubtful)

France

William Saliba went off with a back injury in the Spain defeat and faces a long spell on the sidelines. Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix steps into the starting XI to fill that gap at the back for Les Bleus.

England

Jarell Quansah is back available after serving a two-game suspension, while several changes look likely. Dan Burn, Kobbie Mainoo, Noni Madueke and Ollie Watkins could all get chances after limited minutes, with Declan Rice nursing an injury and likely to be rested.

France vs England Predicted Lineup

France

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Predicted Starting Lineup: Maignan; Koundé, Upamecano, Lacroix, Digne; Koné, Rabiot; Dembélé, Olise, Barcola; Mbappé

England

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Predicted Starting Lineup: Pickford; Spence, Konsa, Burn, O'Reilly; Anderson, Mainoo; Madueke, Bellingham, Gordon; Watkins

France vs England Key Stats & Match Facts

• France are undefeated in their last five home matches against England in all competitions.
• The head-to-head log across the last six meetings reads four wins for France, one draw, and one England win.
• Kylian Mbappé has attempted 3+ shots in seven of his last seven World Cup appearances.
• The Draw is priced at 4.0 for anyone expecting a tight play-off.
• Both Teams To Score - No is on offer at 3.0

France vs England Prediction & Best Bets

Our prediction: This one points towards the home side. France are priced as favourites; their engine room and attack carry more threat, and with Mbappé firing, we lean towards a 2-1 win for Les Bleus, matching the projected scoreline and the goals expected at both ends.

Best Bets

Bradley Barcola to have over 1.5 shots in the match against England. The engine says there is real value here, with a 76.57% implied probability behind Barcola clearing this mark. France are expected to boss possession and pile up the shot volume, and the Paris man loves getting his efforts away from the left, so this reads like a smart angle.

Both Teams To Score - Yes. With a projected total of 3.87 goals and genuine quality at both ends, the numbers back a 64.08% implied probability for goals at each end. Mbappé and Dembélé carry the France threat, while Kane and Bellingham give England plenty in front of goal, so a shut-out at either end looks unlikely.

France vs England Bet Builder

Our France vs England bet builder leans into the star quality on show, combining Kylian Mbappé over 3.5 shots, Mbappé as an anytime goalscorer and Harry Kane to find the net.

Mbappé has attempted 4+ shots in six of his last seven World Cup appearances, so over 3.5 shots from the France talisman looks a strong platform to build on.

The France skipper has found the net in three of his last four World Cup outings, and against an England side still finding rhythm without Saliba's replacement bedding in, an anytime goal makes plenty of sense.

On the other side, Kane has hit the back of the net in three of his last five World Cup appearances and remains England's go-to man in front of goal, so backing the captain to score rounds things off nicely. At the time of writing, this bet builder pays a best price of 5.75 and is as short as 4.75 elsewhere. That's a difference in potential winnings of R10 from the best to the worst price.

Bet builder odds correct at time of publishing.

France vs England Talking Points

For South African viewers who love a marquee international, this is as good as it gets outside a final. These two heavyweights have a knockout history, with France winning that famous 2022 quarter-final 2-1, and both nations came into this tournament rated among the favourites to lift the trophy. A third-place play-off may lack the glamour of a final, but the pride on show and the quality of Mbappé, Bellingham and Kane give neutrals plenty to enjoy on a Saturday night on the couch.

France vs England Predictions FAQs

When is the France vs England World Cup 2026 game?

The match is scheduled to take place on Saturday, 18 July 2026 at 23:00 SAST time.

What is the prediction for France vs England?

The prediction analysis focuses on key team lineups, tactical setups, and recent form to determine the best betting angles.

What are the best bets for France vs England?

The best bets highlight top value selections based on current team news, head-to-head records, and the latest match odds.

Where can I find France vs England bet builder tips?

You can find curated bet builder tips and combined selections directly within our detailed match preview.

Disclaimer

Important information: This article may contain links to betting offers or promotions for France vs England that were available at the time of publication. These offers may have since expired, changed, or no longer be available.

Oddschecker offers are selected from operators that our football experts work with regularly and have first-hand experience of. If you open an account via one of these links, Oddschecker may earn commission. This helps support our coverage and allows us to continue producing expert analysis and football content across World Cup 2026.

Please gamble responsibly. 18+.