Most of the talk surrounding England’s quarter-final with France is on their main man Kylian Mbappé and whether England should play a back-five or stick with their so-far-successful 4-3-3 formation.

The back-five would undoubtedly keep Mbappé at bay more than a simple 4-3-3, but there is a way England can keep their back-four, with the advantages of a back-five as well.

Why should Gareth Southgate keep the 4-3-3 on paper? The obvious answer is that it’s worked wonders throughout the first four games of England’s World Cup. England’s bright starlet Jude Bellingham, however, is the main player concerned here. In a 3-4-3, his duties would be predominantly defensive, in a double pivot with Declan Rice. The licence he currently has to maraud forward and forage high up the pitch would be lost if Southgate selected personnel to fit a back-five system.

England would also be outnumbered two-v-three in midfield, against a makeshift French midfield it must be said. This is an area of the pitch England rarely control in big games, but they have a huge opportunity to against France. They should play a 4-3-3.

France’s weaknesses:

France, aside from their midfield frailties, have two glaring weaknesses that England should exploit. Firstly, France’s right side is disjointed. In the back-three system they have played over the last 18 months, Kingsley Coman has bridged as a wing-back between their right-centre-back and wide-forward. However, in their current 4-2-3-1, there is a large gap between right-back Jules Koundé and winger Ousmane Dembélé. England, with three in midfield (and potentially Phil Foden on the left) could find that this area of the pitch proves fruitful. Using Bellingham to link between Luke Shaw and Foden, France would be outnumbered.

Secondly, as Tunisia proved, France don’t like to be pressed high. Their centre-backs have mistakes in them, and the pressing England used against Senegal should definitely be replicated selectively against France.

Defending against Mbappé:

This man could send anyone out of the tournament at the drop of a hat. This is where turning a back-four into a back-five will be crucial for England.

Bukayo Saka should start on England’s right-wing. Why? Because he’s England’s most defensive winger. He has experience as a wing-back, and it means England can deal with both Mbappé, and his most common servicer Theo Hernández behind him. Saka dropping in, would allow Kyle Walker to focus solely on Mbappé, which every England fan is crying out for. It seems he may be the only right-back in world football who can stop Mbappé.

Having three in midfield would also mean Jordan Henderson can help Walker, and England can double-up on Mbappé at times. What’s important is Walker mustn’t let Mbappé turn inside, he must show the PSG forward out wide to stop him shooting or linking up with teammates.

The final point of consideration when defending against Mbappé, is regarding crosses into the box. Mbappé loves a late run into the area, as he knows this will ensure he goes undetected. England, in an effective back-five at this point, need to make sure he cannot get across the front of the centre-backs.