LEVERKUSEN (Germany), July 8: Old foes France and England will lock horns for the most important game of their footballing histories on Saturday with a place in the Women’s World Cup semi-finals at stake.

England advanced as Group ‘B’ winners with the French finishing second in Group ‘A’ after losing to two-time champions Germany, with their quarter-final clash in Leverkusen the 13th between the two European sides.

Les Bleus have the edge with five victories to England’s two, in addition to five draws, including their last three meetings.

But it will be the first time that they have played in the World Cup finals and both sides have scores to settle.

England have not beaten France for almost 37 years while for the French it was the English who stood in their path to the 2007 World Cup finals.

In the 2003 edition France qualified at England’s expense.

Veteran France captain Sandrine Soubeyrand said they would be trying to put emotion to one side against their cross channel neighbours.

“It’s another match, another context, it won’t be a case of revenge,” said the 37-year-old midfielder.

“It’s a quarter-final in the World Cup, the last match was a qualifier. We know we have to win. It’s a team we’ve played regularly for a long time, but we haven’t played them for a while. They’re a team on the rise like us.”Tenth-ranked England have reached the quarter-finals for the third time but for the French, ranked seventh by FIFA, it is a first.

France have been hit by the one-match suspension of goalkeeper Berangere Sapowicz with number two Celine Deville stepping in for the first time in 43 internationals.

Paris Saint Germain midfielder Elise Bussaglia said they were wary of Kelly Smith and Ellen White in particular but were confident they could win.

“Of course there will be a little bit of tension or pressure. We know we have the qualities to go to the semi-final,” she said.

“It’s the turning point in the competition for me. They eliminated us from the previous World Cup qualifiers so it’s not a really nice memory.

We’ve really progressed so have they.

“There will be a very balanced match but we have to pin them back for the outset.”

Arsenal striker Ellen White scored her first World Cup goal in England’s surprise 2-0 group win against Japan, and the 22-year-old said the team had been boosted by beating the Asian side.

“To beat Japan definitely gives us more confidence going into the quarter-finals. We’re really proud, so hopefully we can be positive and take this into the next game.”—AFP