England and France’s starting XIs from Euro 2012 draw show just how far the two World Cup favourites have come ahead of quarter-final clash with Kylian Mbappe, Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham set to star

You only need to take a look at the line-ups from England and France's 1-1 draw at Euro 2012 to see just how much the two teams have transformed.

From being slow and sluggish squads ten years ago, the two nations are now among the most exciting sides in the world a decade later.

5

5

Both France and England were knocked out of the quarter-finals at Euro 2012.

Since then, France reached the final of Euro 2016, while winning the 2018 World Cup and 2021 Nations League.

England, meanwhile, have progressed into the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, while being losing finalists at Euro 2020.

And the two European giants will showcase their talent in the World Cup quarter-final on Saturday in what could be the game of the tournament.

The teams are unsurprisingly unrecognisable from their meeting at the Donbass Arena at Euro 2012, which saw Samir Nasri cancel out Joleon Lescott's opener.

Jordan Henderson is the only player which featured in the match who is still in England's squad, with the Liverpool skipper a second half substitute.

5

Most read in football

Kelly Cates has to interrupt Daniel Sturridge as fire alarm goes off during Super Sunday

Chido Obi-Martin makes instant history for Manchester United

Is Brentford vs Man United on TV? Amorim hands first start to wonderkid Chido Obi

Mount gives Man United lead at Brentford, Odobert stuns West Ham, Chelsea v Liverpool next

France also have just one player that featured against England available for this weekend's meeting in goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

It would have been two, but Karim Benzema, who led the line in 2012, picked up a thigh injury shortly before the global tournament.

And it's not just the personnel that has changed, with both sides boasting younger and youthful squads.

In stats obtained by Opta, England's average age from the side that faced France was 27 years and 204 days, compared to the 26 years and 295 days from the 2022 World Cup.

5

From the 1-1 draw against France, England started four players over the age of 30 and just two players younger than 24.

It's a stark contrast from their last-16 tie against Senegal where Henderson and Kyle Walker were the only players above 30.

Meanwhile, there were four players aged 23 and younger against the Lions of Teranga.

France also rely on youth more, with just three players 25 and under named in their line-up at Euro 2012.

Against Poland on Saturday they had six, with Kylian Mbappe - just 23 - already boasting nine World Cup goals to his name.

In Mbappe, France have one of the world's best players, with the Paris Saint-Germain forward already scoring more than 250 goals in his short career so far.

He is part of a fearsome foursome up top, including the country's all-time top scorer Olivier Giroud, Ousmane Dembele and Antoine Griezmann.

England's attack has transformed since Euro 2012 where Danny Welbeck was tasked with leading the line, with Ashley Young, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner playing off him.

5

Harry Kane, who is poised to leapfrog Wayne Rooney to become the Three Lions' record goalscorer, is now the focal point up top.

Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden slotted in on the wings against Senegal, with the pair two of Europe's most exciting talents.

With a dynamic midfield pairing of Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham, England have averaged 630 passes a match in Qatar - with 136 coming in the final third.

That is almost more than double the figure they achieved in their Euro 2012 opener where they mustered a meagre 349 passes, with a mere 97 coming further up the pitch.

Football fans should be in for a treat when the two countries battle for a place in the World Cup semi-final on Saturday.

Read More on talkSPORT

Clean-shaven James Harden looks completely unrecognizable without his signature beard

Chris Eubank Jr under investigation after concerning videos before Conor Benn fight

Long gone are the days where supporters were subject to watching a slow and static style of play.

Now both teams play free-flowing, eye-catching football, and with some of the best players in Europe in line to start, it wouldn't come as a surprise if the game turns out to be a goal-fest.