France World Cup news conference: England will be 'tough' to beat

1. Giroud "off the planet player" says coach; Giroud says England will be 'tough' to beat
2. Last 16 concludes on Tuesday with Morocco v Spain (15:00) and Portugal v Switzerland (19:00) - listen to both games on BBC Radio 5 Live & BBC Sounds
3. Build-up to England v France on Saturday (19:00 GMT) in quarter-finals
4. Disrespectful or dynamic? Brazil's goal dance celebrations discussed
5. Get involved: Tweet #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only - standard rates apply) or WhatsApp [phone]

'Glorious or a touch too much?'

Nicky Campbell is over on BBC Radio 5 Live now talking about the moves of the Brazil side last night. While the players may have looked smooth, coach Tite has just been christened as a 'dad dancer'. Ouch.

Keep sending us your thoughts. Tweet #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only - standard rates apply) or WhatsApp [phone].

Boy from Brazil

'I wish I could dance like Paqueta'

I love to see the Brazil players dancing when they score and I am perplexed by all the criticism. It's pure joy. Are people envious? I wish I could dance like Paqueta but I suspect I'm more like Richarlison.

Fergus

England are better now than at Russia 2018

BBC Sport

England did very well at their past couple of tournaments, but I think there is a difference this time.

Four years ago, we were not the most talented side at the World Cup but we were well organised, had fantastic team spirit and great character, and that took us to the semi-finals.

This time we are definitely a better team, ability-wise, than we were at Russia 2018 or last year's European Championship where we lost in the final.

We still have a plan, and that same togetherness, but we have more experience, more depth - and we have got a very exciting young talent in Jude Bellingham too.

Bellingham has probably been the young player of this World Cup so far. His performance against Senegal was unbelievably good, and he brings something different to this England team that we didn't have four years ago.

With him driving forward from midfield, we look more dangerous - we are far more fluid now when we build attacks, wherever they start.

Your Saturday dilemmas

Mark: Our baby is due on Saturday! Our first two were on time so my wife's bound to go into labour just before kick-off. I'm sure she'll manage without me...

Listen to World Cup Daily podcast

Getty Images

The latest World Cup Daily podcast is out if you fancy something to listen to.

Mark Chapman is joined by Ian Dennis, Chris Sutton and Tim Vickery for reaction to Brazil’s 4-1 win over South Korea.

The team discuss how Tite’s side are likely to get on against their quarter-final opponents Croatia and James Maddison speaks to Emma Saunders after England’s victory over Senegal.

Click here to listen

'Criticism is daft and petty'

The criticism of the Brazilian players dancing reminds me of when Richarlison got hammered for doing Keepie uppie's against Forest. It's just daft and petty. Football should be about enjoyment and expression, if we're going to get upset every time players do this then we might as well stop watching football and not bother with it.

Big Nev

'How do you stop genius Mbappe?'

France

ESPN senior writer Mark Ogden, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, on England's quarter-final opponents France: "You look back to when Argentina won it in 1986 and Diego Maradona was by far and away the outstanding player.

"Watching France on Sunday, Kylian Mbappe is just a genius. On the rest of the pitch England more than match up to France. But how do you stop a genius who could do anything on any given day."

Reuters

'Let them dance'

Koko: Let them dance it’s in their culture, like queueing is for the English!

Jack: Imagine being part of a team that is good enough to set aside time in training to rehearse 5 types of 10 second dances... hoping they sacrifice penalty taking to get their steps in.

Mark: Too many times you see in football players with zero personality, it’s been hammered out of them, for a brief moment sometimes you see the real personality come out during a goal celebration.

'France have more than Mbappe'

Peter Schmeichel

Former Manchester United keeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

Rex Features

It would be a big mistake thinking it's all about keeping Kylian Mbappe quiet. Antoine Griezmann is a fantastic player. France are building up and playing better and better. This is going to be some encounter. I don't know how it is going to pan out."

'The dancing should stop at 3-0'

At 3-0 the dancing should stop in my opinion, out of respect for opponent and their fans.

Zino

First dance at 8 to fit in with half time

BBC Radio 5 Live

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Steve and his partner Shannon are getting married on Saturday but there’s one problem…that’s when England play France in the quarter-finals!

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Steve said: "I got about 12 texts within five minutes of the final whistle to say what’s the crack with the football on Saturday," after England beat Senegal.

Steve has faced the dilemma head on. "We had a meeting with the venue and as soon as my wife-to-be left the room I asked, 'do you have a screen somewhere? Can we watch the football? Don’t tell her that I’ve asked this'."

Their first dance is scheduled for 8pm to fit in with the half time interval, "whether or not she would react well to me suggesting the first dance should be to Vindaloo or Three Lions, I don’t know," adds Steve.

How many wedding plans or family gatherings are being changed to fit in with England-France?

Heard the one about the couple who are getting married and have changed the time of their first dance to fit in with the match?

'Jealous of Brazil's success'

Hendrix: As a Korean, the dancing celebrations after each Brazilian goal don’t really bother me. They have every right to celebrate. I’m more bothered about the narrative that Brazil “destroyed” Korea - if not for Allison’s world class saves, it likely would have ended 4-3.

Leri: All those jealous of Brazil's success have emerged from the woodwork. Sadly the only thing they can criticise is the dancing.

Waleed: Feel sad for so called football 'fans' who don't like the sight of dancing and celebrating a goal. Must have a real joyous social life!

World Cup feels wide open

BBC Sport

This World Cup feels wide open to me.

England still have an awful lot of work to do to win it, of course, but at the same time there is nothing for us to fear from the other teams who are left in it.

Admire? Yes. Respect? Always. But fear? No chance.

Let everyone else be afraid of us, and there are plenty of reasons they will be after watching Gareth Southgate's side play the way they did against Senegal on Sunday.

I love the way we are roaring forward, the goals we are scoring and how our players are doing all of that while looking like they are having a lot of fun despite being in such a pressured environment.

And, the more I see of us, as well as watching every other team left in this World Cup, the more I do think England have a chance of winning it.

'Do your little dance and then get on with the game'

For me, it's not the dancing per se but the time it took. Richarlison danced in the corner, danced with his team, then went and danced with the coach. All while the Koreans are stood there waiting for kick-off, feeling gutted at conceding a third. It's just not on. Do your little dance and then get on with the game, don't drag it out forever.

Grant

Your England XI to face France

BBC Sport

Gareth Southgate has to choose a side to take on defending champions France in the quarter-finals on Saturday.

If you were the England boss, would you pick the same starting XI that got the job done against Senegal?

Or maybe you think the team needs a slight change in formation to deal with Kylian Mbappe and the rest of Didier Deschamps' side.

Choose your England XI here and share with your friends on #bbcfootball. We will reveal your final XI on Saturday morning.

'Well done Brazil, it’s South Korea'

I’m all for the Brazilian players celebrating goals how they wish to, but the celebrations against a poor South Korean side were akin to Michael Owen’s when he constantly scored against that 13-year-old goalkeeper. “Well done Brazil, it’s South Korea.”

Andrew

'Only one Mbappe'

England winger Bukayo Saka was asked if he could be the "Kylian Mbappe of this World Cup", as the France forward was a breakout star four years ago in Russia.

The 21-year-old's reply: "Thank you for the compliment but no, there's only one Kylian Mbappe."

Bukayo Saka asked if he can be the 'Kylian Mbappe of this World Cup?'

'Can't get enough of it'

Here's Jack Grealish and Declan Rice showing off some skills around the pool at England's hotel in Qatar. How many of us would've slipped and fell in after the first couple of touches?