England fans are seriously worried about injury news which could ruin France game
England's preparations for their World Cup quarter final against France have been dealt a blow with one player missing out on training just days before the game.
Gareth Southgate is getting his side ready for what could be argued is the biggest test of his time as England manager so far, even taking into account the Euro final against Italy.
The Three Lions take on World Cup holders France in the last eight, with Kylian Mbappe's five goals in the tournament so far showing how tough it'll be to stop the forward.
England are showing the kind of form that has abandoned them in recent months and Southgate seems to have stumbled across his best team.
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The England boss introducing Jordan Henderson into the midfield, along with Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice has certainly worked out.
Henderson and Bellingham's goal celebration in the win over Senegal has some Liverpool fans believing the Borussia Dortmund midfielder will head off to Anfield in the near future.
However, the manager won't be worried about that, and will be more concerned with the fact that he was without West Ham star Rice for training on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old is said to have been absent with an illness, whilst his teammates trained in the heat, and it's not known if it could keep him out of the match.
It will be a concern for Southgate if he has to replace Rice, with Mason Mount, Kalvin Phillips and Connor Gallagher the most obvious replacements.
Mount started the games against Iran and USA but was replaced by Henderson part way through the latter, with the Liverpool man keeping his place still.
Phillips combined with Rice during the Euros but his lack of game time for Manchester City, partially through injury, could be cause for concern.
Chelsea midfielder Gallagher impressed last season whilst on loan at Crystal Palace but hasn't been as good since returning to Stamford Bridge for this campaign.
Southgate could choose to return to the 3-4-3 system that he's played a lot as national team manager, in order to bolster his defence against the threats the world champions pose.
Southgate has also been without Callum Wilson and Raheem Sterling during training, though neither man has been in his starting line up recently.
Wilson has had his fitness issues but did say he was only missing as he was 'recharging and recovering,' whilst Sterling has flown home after his family home was broken into.
The French media think they have pinpointed the weak point in their opposition, naming Harry Maguire as someone the team can get at, despite his excellent form so far in the tournament.
Their own fans were made to feel some slight worry earlier this week, with Mbappe missing training with the rest of the team, to do recovery work on his own inside.
Topics: England, France, Football, Declan Rice, FIFA World Cup
Ryan Sidle