Image source, BBC Sport

Eighteen months ago, I walked in to England's media centre at their St George's Park training base for the very first time as England reporter, not really sure what to expect.

The journey that group went on to the Euros final was remarkable. Now we are here in Qatar, in a different continent, a different season and a whole different tournament (not to mention a few indifferent results in between), and it's clear that despite so much changing, among the players very little has.

This is still a squad very much together, very much focused and very much determined to make a statement against France on Saturday.

Read more here.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Al Bayt Stadium

England manager Gareth Southgate has named an unchanged team to face France in the World Cup quarter-final here at Al Bayt Stadium and no-one can seriously argue with that.

The balance in midfield and attack looked excellent against Senegal so why risk jeopardising that with a change of formation?

All down to these same 11 players now to try and beat the holders to put England into their second successive World Cup semi-final.

I think we're beyond doubting Gareth Southgate now aren't we? He's more than shown he is not just the right manager for this England team but the right person too. A proper leader.

Oh, there were doubts at first... like when Andi Peters took over in the Broom Cupboard... but just like AP, Gareth has shown he is the man for the big job.

I guess this makes Steve Holland Ed the Duck.

Image source, Getty Images

England midfielder Kalvin Phillips on how manager Gareth Southgate is not given enough credit for the job he has done: "I think people underestimate how good a manager Gareth Southgate is.

"I have been with England for three years and he has been amazing.

"We didn't have good results in the summer but you can put that down to a few reasons.

"How he has nurtured this team to winning games and one of the best countries in the world at playing football. A lot of people don't give him credit for that.

"He has got very tough decisions to make. He has unbelievable players that he has to leave on the bench.

"I understand it is a very hard position he is in, but he has been unbelievable since I've been with England. He is an unbelievable man-manager."

Southgate began his reign as England manager in October 2016, winning 49 and losing 13 of his 80 games in charge since.

But the defeat by Croatia in the last four of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, followed by another by Italy on penalties in the Euro 2020 final, led to questions about Southgate's ability to get the most out of his talented squad.

Further concerns were raised during a poor Nations League campaign earlier this year, particularly after a humiliating home thrashing by Hungary where England fans chanted 'You don't know what you're doing' at the manager.

England have since recovered to reach the World Cup quarter-finals in Qatar, with Southgate earning credit for his tactical decisions that led to a 3-0 win against Senegal in the last 16.

Now his credentials will be put under scrutiny again when his side face defending champions France in Doha.

England are now established as genuine contenders as they prepare to meet World Cup holders France, says manager Gareth Southgate.

England men's solitary major honour came way back at the 1966 World Cup.

But the opinion of the Three Lions has changed since they reached the 2018 World Cup semi-finals and the final of Euro 2020, says Southgate.

"I think there's always been a level of respect for England but I think we've got credibility now," he told the BBC.

"To get to a semi-final then a final, I think the rest of the world believe that England are competitive and they know that we have performed under pressure a lot more in the last few years.

"When I travel around Europe and the world and meet football people, there's definitely a greater appreciation of what we've done."

France

Image source, BBC Sport

France also name the same XI which started Sunday's last-16 win over Poland.

Kylian Mbappe is the standout name, of course.

The Paris St-Germain forward again plays alongside Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele behind striker Olivier Giroud.

Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris becomes the most-capped French men's player and plays his 143rd game for Les Bleus.

France XI: Lloris, Kounde, Varane, Upamecano, T. Hernandez, Griezmann, Tchouameni, Rabiot, Dembele, Giroud, Mbappe.

England

Image source, BBC Sport

Same again for England.

Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate decides to stick with the same starting XI which beat Senegal in the last 16.

That seems to mean it will again be a back four, with full-backs Kyle Walker and Luke Shaw either side of John Stones and Harry Maguire.

It is a midfield trio of Declan Rice - who had been ill earlier this week - Jordan Henderson and Jude Bellingham, with an attack of Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden.

Raheem Sterling is back on the bench after returning home to the UK earlier this week after a break-in at his family home.

England XI: Pickford, Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw, Rice, Bellingham, Henderson, Kane, Saka, Foden.

Another quarter-final, another penalty shoot-out. That this game even got that far is remarkable.

Argentina looked to have it sewn up with 10 minutes to go thanks to these two goals...

But after passively allowing the game to happen around them, the Netherlands suddenly decided to affect proceedings, slung some big lads up front and snatched extra-time from the jaws of defeat.

Wout Weghorst take a bow. And that last-gasp free-kick... takes some serious stones!

And so to the shootout, in which Emi Martinez was the hero and Lautaro Martinez held his nerve...

We should also mention referee Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz too. He had an... interesting game. He showed 17 yellows and then sent off the Netherlands' Denzel Dumfries after the contest.

Be honest, you'd pretty much accepted that one of this World Cup's finalists would be Brazil.

Well, if you did you were wrong.

After fashioning the majority of chances in normal time, they looked to have snatched it too in the extra 30...

But Croatia simply refuse to lie down in this tournament...

It meant penalties and, ultimately, heartbreak for Brazil. Neymar, their talisman, left stranded without a kick to take...

Croatia are into the semi-finals of the World Cup off the back of a single victory so far. Against Canada. Mad.

Simon Gleave
Head of sports analysis, Nielsen Gracenote

France have won only four of their 10 matches since the beginning of June which has meant that they have dropped from 3rd to 6th on Gracenote's world ranking, external this year.

England's defeats by Hungary and Italy and just three wins in 10 - all at this World Cup - since the beginning of June mean that they have dropped from sixth to seventh on Gracenote's world ranking in 2022.

England had fallen as low as 13th but their good results at World Cup 2022 have helped them recover to seventh. This is close to a 50/50 match with France on 51% chance of progress and England on 49% according to Gracenote.

So what are the key battles that will settle England v France tonight?

BBC Sport has broken it down and taken a look at each, including...

Walker v Mbappe, Bellingham v Tchouameni and Kane v Giroud.

You can read all that here.

Boy, this World Cup has broken some hearts...

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

I wonder who Rishi Sunak supports? West Ham? Aston Villa? Either?

Where are you watching this game?

You can send us a photo of where you're tuning into the big game by following the link here.

We'll use your pictures in this live page!

ITV are showing the match live tonight with post-match highlights and clips on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.

There will be full-match commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds. Coverage begins at 12:00 GMT and includes commentary on Morocco and Portugal at 15:00.

And, of course, you can stay here with me and follow the whole thing via my only marginally biased (honest) live text commentary.

Croatia, Argentina and Morocco as World Cup semi-finalists. Not all surprises, but you'd have made some decent money on predicting those three to reach the last four.

Here is how Morocco became the first African side to reach the last four...

There is so much to get excited about this evening...

Arguably the finest forward in the world in Kylian Mbappe on one side and possibly the best young midfielder on the planet in Jude Bellingham on the other.

The World Cup holders against the European Championship runners up.

Kane and Giroud, Foden and Griezmann, Saka and Dembele, Rabiot and Rice, Upamecano and Maguire.

From the moment the draw was made, we all pictured this potential game. Now it's a reality.

Image source, Getty Images

In many ways, this is the defining moment for Southgate's England. Yes, there has been a World Cup semi-final before this and, OK, that European Championship final on home turf felt pretty big. But France, the reigning world champions, are the country to which England have most recently looked for inspiration in its quest to finally deliver again on the biggest stage.

Way back in 1998, with England sat at home, France won its first World Cup, fuelled in large part by their brilliant national academy at Clairefontaine, which had opened 10 years earlier. They have been pumping out world class footballers and sides to challenge Europe and the world since.

In 2012, the opened St George's Park and we have witnessed near constant improvement at all age levels since. It doesn't work like this, but if England truly want to emulate France, then beating them en route to winning the World Cup 10 years after opening your all singing, all dancing national academy is a heck of a way to do it!

This is an England team to savour...

Image source, Getty Images

One to respect and admire...

Image source, Getty Images

Arguably the finest the country has had in at least half a century...

Image source, Getty Images

But is it one we fully believe can deliver on its huge promise?

Tonight, Gareth Southgate's England face their toughest test, on the biggest stage, against the best there is. Over the last six years, we've witnessed highs and lows, but there has remained the feeling this Three Lions have been building up to something special.

It's time to deliver.