England begin preparation for Mbappe showdown in World Cup quarter-finals - in pictures

Declan Rice and Callum Wilson missed training on Wednesday

England's Harry Kane takes part training at the Al Wakrah Sports Complex on Wednesday, December 7, 2022. AP

England's Marcus Rashford during training in Al Wakrah. Reuters

England's Harry Maguire warms up during training in Qatar ahead of the quarter-final against France. PA

England's Jordan Henderson stretched during training. PA

England's Kyle Walker trains in Al Wakrah with teammates. PA

England's James Maddison, middle, takes part in drills during training session at the Al Wakrah Sports Complex. AP

Bukayo Saka and Mason Mount during training. Reuters

England's Phil Foden trains for the World Cup quarter-final against France. Reuters

England's Aaron Ramsdale, Nick Pope and Jordan Pickford during training. Reuters

Marcus Rashford has a laugh during training. Reuters

England's Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham during training. Reuters

England manager Gareth Southgate oversees training in Al Wakrah. PA

England's Harry Maguire during training session with teammates. PA

England's Phil Foden and Kyle Walker during training. Reuters

England's John Stones, right, takes part in drills during training. AP

Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane train on Wednesday. EPA

England players train for their World Cup 2022 quarter-final against France. EPA

England will face the biggest test of their World Cup 2022 title hopes when they face holders France in the quarter-finals on Saturday.

Gareth Southgate's team are being billed as slight underdogs in the match at Al Bayt Stadium against France, who have been fuelled by the brilliance of Kylian Mbappe.

Paris Saint-Germain forward Mbappe is the tournament's leading scorer with five goals and is in lethal form.

However, England forward Bukayo Saka, who scored against Senegal, said the Three Lions can challenge Les Bleus.

"We know the qualities they have but we also know our own qualities. We've had three clean sheets and at the same time we've scored the most goals [in the tournament]," Saka told reporters.

"There's a lot of tournament experience now. If you look at the results from the last few tournaments we've been in, we've got to a semi-final and a final. So when the big games come, we have a lot of players who know what they need to do. We are feeling good right now. Of course, we have to believe we can win the tournament."

England players put in the hard yards during training on Wednesday for what will be a stern test, although Declan Rice missed training through illness. The 23-year-old midfielder has started all four games for Southgate's side in Qatar but was absent from the session at Al Wakrah Sports Complex.

Striker Callum Wilson also sat out as he recovers from a minor muscle strain. There were 22 players involved in the session.

Ben White left last week due to a personal issue and Raheem Sterling headed back to England ahead of the last-16 win against Senegal after after intruders broke into his house and stole jewellery and watches.