France vs England

Lore & Background

Founded in 1904, the national team has won two FIFA World Cups, two UEFA European Championships, one CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions, two FIFA Confederations Cups and one UEFA Nations League title. France was one of the four European teams that participated in the first World Cup in 1930. Twenty-eight years later, the team led by Raymond Kopa and Just Fontaine finished in third place at the 1958 World Cup. France experienced much of its success in three different eras: in the 1980s, the late 1990s to early 2000s, and the late 2010s to early 2020s. France shares historic footballing rivalries with other European nations, most notably Belgium, Italy, Germany and Spain. A bitter rivalry with Argentina also developed and intensified in the late 2010s and early 2020s, defined by two consecutive World Cup knockout stage matches (round of 16 in 2018 and final in 2022).

Reader's Guide

It only mentions that France shares historic footballing rivalries with other European nations, most notably Belgium, Italy, Germany and Spain. No mention is made of England as a rival or of any specific matches between France and England.

Did You Know?

• France has won two FIFA World Cups (1998, 2018).
• France is one of two countries, the other being Brazil, to have won every FIFA men's 11-player competition at every age level.
• Lucien Laurent scored the first goal in World Cup history for France in 1930.
• Just Fontaine holds the record for most goals in a single World Cup tournament with 13 in 1958.