Emmanuel Macron ‘doesn’t doubt’ France will beat England in World Cup clash

It is well and truly game on for France v England after Emmanuel Macron today predicted Des Bleus will beat the Three Lions in their World Cup quarter final.   

The French President was supremely confident of France’s chances on Saturday, telling national radio: ‘I don’t doubt that we’re going to win.’  

Macron, an avid supporter of Marseille, correctly predicted France’s victory over Poland last week including guessing the final score and goal-scorers. 

But he refused to be drawn on the result against England, saying he would give a prediction closer to the match. 

Speaking to station RTL early Tuesday, he said: ‘I don’t really have any doubts about the fact that we’re going to win. I can’t yet predict the score… but I think we win.’

Macron promised to give a full prediction ‘on the day or the day before’ the game, once the probable line-ups become clearer.

It comes after the French leader correctly predicted his side would beat Poland 3-1 during the round of 16. 

Macron not only gave the correct score line, but also guessed that Kylian Mbappe, Olivier Giroud and Robert Lewandowski would be the scorers.

In the event, Mbappe scored twice and Giroud once – taking him beyond Thierry Henry’s goal-scoring record – and Lewandowski got a late consolation via a penalty.

England, meanwhile, swept aside Senegal 3-0 thanks to goals by Jordan Henderson, captain Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka to set up a scintillating quarter final clash.

France and England – historic foes – have never met in the knockout stages of an international football tournament before now.

Macron correctly predicted a 3-1 win for Des Bleus over Poland in the round of 16 including that the scorers would be Giroud, Mbappe and Lewandowski 

England swept aside Senegal in their last game to set up the match with France, and have the best record in this tournament so far in terms of games won and goal difference

France, the defending champions, come into the match the favourites but England actually have the more-impressive record at this tournament – having not yet lost a game and with a bigger goal difference than any remaining team.

Both teams have a lot of the same strengths and weaknesses: Prolific attack driven by pacey wingers and a solid midfield, with defence their potential weak-spot.

A lot will depend on their younger talents – particularly Mbappe, who has looks every inch the world’s best player in the games he has played for France so-far. 

But England are packing promising youngsters of their own in the form of Saka, Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham who are also in good form.

And the Three Lions may have a secret weapon in right-back Kyle Walker, who has experience playing against Mbappe and is expected to be given the task of keeping him quiet on the night.

The clash is certainly the highest-profile fixture the Qatar schedule has yet thrown up and, had the draw gone another way, could easily have been a final in itself.

For that reason, whoever emerges victorious will almost certainly be considered frontrunners to lift the trophy. 

Brazil currently stand as pundit’s favourites after a supremely confident 4-1 thrashing of South Korea yesterday, but have yet to face serious opposition. 

If England can beat France – the reigning world champions – then they will be firmly in contention to lift the World Cup trophy