Speaking on the BBC on Monday, Rio Ferdinand said: "The calmness, the confidence of this France team, they expect to get through. Any type of situation that arises they were under a bit of pressure in the first 25 minutes of the game [vs Poland], but it doesn't unsettle them.
"They ride that wave and then they punish teams. They've been very clinical and I think if you said to England 'you're gonna play against the France team that are gonna be without five of their starts and a 37 year old centre forward [Olivier Giroud, actually 36]."
'"Go at them, go on the front foot, really put it to this French team because we watched France. Respect them, they're a good team but I don't think they're as good a team as this England team. They've got the superstar individual, but I think our nucleus of players will outshine them."
England will face France in the World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday after beating Senegal 3–0 in the Round of 16 clash last Sunday.
The game will be of extra importance to Manchester United with Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Marcus Rashford, and Raphael Varane are likely to feature.
