France beat England 2-1 to set up semifinal clash against Morocco

Defending champions France face off against a confident English team in the fourth and final quarter-final of the Qatar World Cup at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar on Saturday.

Kylian Mbappe has been the leading the French charge in Qatar, netting five goals in four appearances. He is getting ample support from France's most prolific striker Olivier Giroud and midfield maestro Antoine Griezmann.

England, on the other hand, have had eight players to get their names on the scoresheet, most by any team.

For England to stop the French barrage, they have to neutralise the Mbappe threat. Will the English succeed or will Mbappe take France a step closer to defending title, only time will tell.

England - Jordan Pickford, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Harry Kane (c), Phil Foden

France - Hugo Lloris (c), Jules Kounde, Raphael Varane, Dayot Upamecano, Theo Hernandez, Antoine Griezmann, Aurelien Tchouameni, Adrien Rabiot, Ousmane Dembele, Olivier Giroud, Kylian Mbappe

This is the first time France and England are facing off in the knock-out stage of the World Cup.

England get the first free-kick of the match. But nothing comes off it as Harry Kane was caught off-side.

Griezmann sends a sharp cross to Giroud in the box, whose shot went straight into the hands of England keeper Jordan Pickford.

Rabiot snatched the ball from England in the midfield, squared it to Mbappe, who crossed the ball towards a charging Dembele. But, fortunately for England, Dembele couldn't get connect the header.

France's sustained pressure paid off as Tchouameni's right-footed thunderous shot 10 yards away from the box crashed into the back of the England net, giving France an early lead.

Kane nearly wiggled away from his markers and was in a one-on-one situation against the French keeper Lloris. But Lloris saved his initial shot and Henderson's lob from the rebound was also safely negotiated by the French defence.

Harry Kane went to the ground at the edge of the France d-box after a challenge from a French defender. The referee paused the play for VAR to check a potential penalty. But the VAR decided it wasn't a penalty.

After a brief spell of possession, Kane took an aim at the French post, but Lloris was up to the task, deflecting it for a corner.

Mbappe wins a free-kick, courtesy a lazy challenge from Henderson. France play a short free-kick, and after three passes, the ball found its way to the left boot of Mbappe, but the shot from the French superstar was way off target.

Griezmann sees a yellow card for a clumsy challenge on Kyle Walker.

Kounde gave away an easy corner to England with less than two minutes to go in the half. But nothing comes off it.

At the halfway point of the quarter-final clash between England and France, it is French midfielder Tchouameni's brilliant strike that separates the two teams.

After conceding the goal. England tried to conjure up a response but so far their efforts have fell short.

Saka has looked threatening and England captain Harry Kane has also tested his club team-mate, France keeper Hugo Lloris a couple of times. But so far, the French captain has been up to the task.

As things stand, France will take on Morocco in the semifinal, to decide who faces the winner between Argentina and Croatia in the World Cup final.

Ousmane Dembele sees a yellow card for foul on Bellingham

Lloris saved a fierce attempt on goal from Bellingham. The corresponding corner kick also put him in a precarious position, but the French captain grabbed the ball on second attempt to save France's slender lead.

France get their first free-kick in the half. But Greizmann's delivery, for once in the match, was disappointing.

Tchouameni made an error in judgement and his clumsy challenge on Saka cost France a penalty.

Kane sent Lloris the wrong way to score from the spot and put England on equal terms with France.

Mbappe made a surging run down the left wing and cuts back the ball to Giroud, who couldn't control the ball in time to get the shot away.

Saka wiggled past a couple of French players to take a shot on goal but there wasn't enough power behind the shot to beat Lloris.

Maguire nearly gave England the lead with a header from a Saka free-kick. But his attempt grazed the outside of the goal post before going wide.

Luke Shaw's pass nearly found Saka in front of the goal. But defender Hernandez rescued France, putting himself between the ball and Saka to avert the danger.

After missing a golden chance just a minute back, Giroud made amends with a header that regains the one goal lead for France.

Hernandez's clumsy challenge on Mason Mount cost France a penalty, which was given after a VAR check.

Harry Kane's penalty was way off target, crushing England's hopes of a comeback with time running out.

England get a chance to equalise with four minutes to go. But the corner was easily fended away by France.

England get a free-kick at the edge of the box in potentially the final minute of the match. But Rashford's penalty misses the mark by a whisker.

France overcame the English challenge in their bid to become the first team in 60 years to retain the World Cup title.

France's 1-0 first half lead ended when Harry Kane fired the ball home from the penalty spot.

But Giroud, their most prolific striker, found the back of the net with a header. Just minutes later, England won another penalty after a VAR check.

But Kane, who matched Wayne Ronney's England goal-scoring record earlier in the match, put his shot over the goal bar and with that miss, England's fate in World Cup was sealed.

With the win, France set up a semifinal clash against the surprise package of the tournament, Morocco. While Argentina will face off Croatia in the other semifinal.