World Cup news & build-up to England v France

1. England v France in World Cup quarter-finals (19:00 GMT)
2. Morocco face Portugal (15:00)
3. Reaction to Argentina's dramatic win over the Netherlands
4. Brazil out after defeat to Croatia
5. Get involved: Tweet #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only - standard rates apply) or WhatsApp [phone]

To back three or not to back three?

BBC

We showed you your England-France combined XI earlier, but Gareth Southgate does not have the luxury of being able to pick Kylian Mbappe.

Sure he'll be grateful for your thoughts though - no sign of a back three either.

If you've not had chance to pick your line-up, you can do so over here.

'Excitement building'

BBC

Paul Pradier, reporting from Paris

Excitement is building in France ahead of tonight’s match.

"it will be like the 100 years war fought out again,” says Jean-Benoit, waiter at a bar in the 14th arrondissement of Paris. “The two teams are playing at a very high level so it will be tight.”

Meanwhile, Jean-Louis (pictured below left drinking coffee with his family) wishes "good luck" to the England team.

“It’s a pleasure to face the Three Lions because it’s been a long time since we played against them in the World Cup," he says. “It should be a very nice match between two excellent teams and France will, of course, end up winning."

BBC

Get Involved - your matchday plans

Todays plans! Go with my football boys corporate hospitality at Eastleigh FC v Wrexham, then home for 6pm, change into England shirt, get everyone to sit in the same places as we did against Senegal, and roar the boys on! Apologies neighbours!

Damo

Will be at a drum and bass day rave from 2 to 10 but thankfully they're showing the football there too. Should be an interesting combination.

Rich

Off to Box Park, Wembley with Josh, Joel and Big Bill. Not wearing a coat as we don't want it covered in beer so having to brave the travel there just in England tops. Come on the boys!

Sam

Base layer underneath Sam??

And the French?

Julien Laurens

French football expert on BBC Radio 5 Live

The French players all have TVs in their hotel rooms.

They have a channel dedicated to the opposition with video analysis you can watch.

Some choose not to watch it. Some watch it a lot.

How will the England players be preparing?

Rob Green

Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

The England players will be sleeping, hopefully getting some rest. You break it up into periods of time - when you are going to eat and when you will sleep.

Because it is such a late kick-off (22:00 local time) it makes it that bit longer during the day, obviously.

You work backwards during the day. Some will go for an afternoon walk. Some won't have even got up yet.

'We're all confident'

Harry's feeling optimistic.

What do the pundits think?

World Cup 2022: BBC pundits weigh up England's chances

'This year we have belief'

We entered this tournament hoping and believing we can win it - Kane

England captain Harry Kane says his team "didn't really know what to expect" during their run in 2018.

"We went with the belief we could win but it was almost a new experience for a lot of us," said Kane.

"We got to the semi-final and were over the moon but whether we had the full belief to go and win the tournament, I'm not sure.

"We have entered this tournament hoping and believing we can win it. We have to got to a stage we expected to be at and now it is about trying to push on."

Get Involved - your matchday plans

It's going to be chaos in our Anglo-French household, with the projector out and kids of all ages in the mix

Fred

Screening the game at our local church later, divine inspiration needed! Come on England!! Prediction: 3-1 to England, with nail-biting VAR drama to come

Luke

My sister is getting married today. The dinner starts at 7pm and she's put in place a 'no streaming' at the table policy with no mention of the football. A lot of guests popping up with mysterious 'Covid' this morning. I'll have to take my chances on a nearby pub if it goes to penalties.

Nigel, Battersea

Yikes, don't envy your difficulties there Nigel.

How waning icon Ronaldo can guide Portugal's new stars

We should get team news from today's first quarter-final in just over an hour's time.

Will Cristiano Ronaldo be on the bench again?

A poll in the Portuguese media showed 70% wanted the nation's leading international goal scorer to be dropped for the last-16 win against Switzerland and Goncalo Ramos scored a hat-trick in his place.

My colleague Alex Bysouth has written about how Ronaldo can still guide Portugal's new stars

Getty Images

Ronaldo 'never told me he wanted to leave'

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has revealed Cristiano Ronaldo never told him he wanted to leave the club before the explosive interview that made his position untenable.

The Portugal captain lines up in the World Cup quarter-finals against Morocco today and his former boss said that he had wanted him to stay.

"I like to work with world-class players," he said. "I know they can make a difference and help you to achieve your objectives.

"I wanted him to stay from the first moment until now. I did everything to bring him into the team because I value his quality. We wanted him to be part of our project and for him to contribute to Manchester United because he is a great player and has such a great history.

"He's gone now and he's in the past."

Read Simon Stone's full story over here

Could Morocco fulfil Pele's prediction?

Reuters

After Morocco's memorable knock-out victory over Spain, their coach Walid Regragui made an extremely important declaration in his post-match press conference.

"At some point in Africa, we have to be ambitious and why not win the World Cup, even if it's going to be hard," he said.

In the mid-1970s Pele made the prediction that an African team would win the tournament before the year 2000.

So, ahead of Morocco's clash with Portugal later this afternoon, Algerian journalist Maher Mezahi examines the age-old debate: Why hasn’t an African team ever won a World Cup?

Read more here.

'Henderson & Pickford had massive will to win'

Kristie Kinghorn

BBC Newcastle

EPA

Kevin Ball, former Sunderland AFC captain and coach, coached both Jordan Henderson and Jordan Pickford between the ages of 16 and 20.

He isn’t surprised they’ve become such an important part of the England setup:

“When they first came in, again, different characters, different personalities, but both with a massive, massive will to become the best they can be," Ball told BBC Look North.

“And that, when I look back now, I think to myself, I knew when I looked at them, you could see the ability they had, it was up to us as coaches to make sure we allowed that to flourish.

“I look at Jordan [Henderson] and I think that people sometimes don’t possibly understand the value he brings to teams.

“They will go out with the attitude they are going to win, they will be positive, and they will be a difficult game. But do I expect us to win? Yes.”

Get Involved - your matchday plans

At my brother in-laws wedding. Agreement with his side of the family to all put phones on airplane mode and watch the full game at 1am. Fingers crossed don't get the result spoiled (and its a good one!)

John, nervous in Winchester

When England beat France in the World Cup 1982

A good omen for England?

They won the last meeting with France at a World Cup.

The world was a very different place back then, however...

SEVEN HOURS TO GO UNTIL KICK OFF

'We've got more weapons'

Rio Ferdinand

Former England defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

If you said to me you’ve got to face Olivier Giroud in a quarter-final of a World Cup - he’s 36, he hasn’t got any pace - I’d sleep well. I don't mean any disrespect because he’s been a great player and he still is a great player. If chances fall to him, he’ll be potent. But he’s France’s second choice striker – doing a job with Karim Benzema not here.

It’s about stopping the ball into him as well. Ousmane Dembele will be a threat as he can deliver with both feet but that’s Luke Shaw’s job. Don’t let him cross. Giroud is also a perfect opponent for Harry Maguire. He's not mobile and he wants the ball in the air.

I’m making it sound quite easy but it’s not. I do feel confident though. We’ve got more weapons, are in better form, play more as a team and our midfield is better than theirs.

More on the World Cup Daily

Get Involved - your matchday plans

Partner's booked us on a flight that lands during the second half. Suggestions please for inventive ways to get through Stansted, on & off the train, and safely in the door to watch on catch-up without discovering the score? And yes I'll be booking our travel from now on.

Matt

My day is all planned. This morning at the foot of a ladder helping my son put up his outside Christmas lights. This afternoon, my local church Christmas Fayre. This evening, a quiet night in front of the tv watching England beat France. Simples.

Mike

Pets, banter & Williams - inside camp with England

BBC Sport

BBC Sport reporter Kelly Somers has spent this World Cup working inside the England camp.

In her latest BBC column, she describes the world of pets, banter and Robbie Williams.

"The journey that group went on to the Euros final was remarkable," Kelly says.

"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."

Read more here

BreakingGermany's Neuer out for the season

Away from the World Cup quarter-finals for a second...

Germany and Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has broken his leg while skiing following his side's early World Cup exit.

He says the injury will rule him out of the rest of the season.

Instagram

Get Involved - your matchday plans

Please remember to include your name, even on What's App messages.

I'm going to watch the football in the lounge with a cuppa on my prayer mat

Damian

Trying to get back from a rig in the North Sea. Unfortunately will be landing in Aberdeen and can’t make it home so will have to watch in the hotel bar. No doubt most of the punters will be supporting France!! Come on England

Anon

Going to the game tonight and feeling a sense of quiet confidence that England can surprise the French and the world with a commanding performance. However, the feeling that it is all going to end in tears is never far away... because that's what usually happens when you follow England

Ruban, Sanjiv, Kuhan and Ripal