Straight off the bat, France has a much larger combined military force with 203,000 active personnel, this includes those serving in the French army, air force and navy. Compare this with the UK which currently has just 150,000 active personnel across its three branches.
Sky Bet have odds for an England win at 2/1, with a draw after extra-time at 9/4 and a France win at 7/5. Stats Perform have been running a live tournament predictor and now position France as favourites to progress to the semi-finals at 53 per cent.
While the French were initially unable to break the string of British victories, the combined actions of American and French forces, and a key victory by a French fleet over a British rescue fleet, forced the British into a decisive surrender at Yorktown, Virginia, in 1781.
During the reign of Louis XIV, Sun King, from 1643 to 1715, France was the leading European power as Europe's most populous, richest and powerful country.
Out of the 169 most important world battles fought since 387BC, France has won 109, lost 49 and drawn 10.
Did the French win the Hundred Years' War? Yes, the French eventually won the Hundred Years' War. Following their defeat at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, the French soon recovered and won several battles and finally fully defeated the English at the Battle of Castillon in 1453.
The longest war in history is believed to be the Reconquista (Spanish for Reconquest), with a duration of 781 years.
Their gross domestic product (GDP) – a very imperfect indicator but one that has the advantage of being simple and comparable – is also close: In 2022, in terms of purchasing power parity, the British GDP will be $2.333 billion (€2.208 billion), according to the World Bank, while France's will be $2.279 billion.
England vs France Match Betting
Defending champions France head into the eagerly anticipated duel as the 7/5 favourites for the win, England are available at 21/10, with a draw priced at 23/10 (all odds within 90 minutes).
France has more combat aircraft, more frigates and more troops than Britain despite spending significantly less on defence, according to the military balance, an annual comparison of the strengths of armed forces around the world by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).
Hundred Years' War, (1337–1453)Intermittent armed conflict between England and France over territorial rights and the issue of succession to the French throne. It began when Edward III invaded Flanders in 1337 in order to assert his claim to the French crown.
The Quasi-War, which at the time was also known as "The Undeclared War with France," the "Pirate Wars," and the "Half War," was an undeclared naval war between the United States and France. The conflict lasted between 1798 and 1800, and was a formative moment for the United States.
World War II was the deadliest conflict in human history marked by 50 to 85 million fatalities, most of whom were civilians in the Soviet Union and China.
The Anglo-Zanzibar War was fought between the United Kingdom and the Zanzibar Sultanate on Aug. 27, 1896. The conflict lasted around 40 minutes, and is the shortest war in history.
The British issued an ultimatum to Khālid: either relinquish the throne by 9:00 am on August 27 or be at war with Great Britain. Khālid did not stand down, and the Anglo-Zanzibar War followed. Having lasted less than an hour before Khālid's forces surrendered, it is considered the shortest war in recorded history.
They came into conflict over a series of issues, including disputes over English territorial possessions in France and the legitimate succession to the French throne.
The first map (below) shows the historical allies of Great Britain, perhaps surprisingly showing France as a key ally in a total of 18 wars.
In 1204, in the face of a French invasion, King John of England was obliged to abandon his lands in northern France. After 150 years of Anglo-Norman government, England was severed from Normandy.
Between 9 May and 22 June 1940, a remarkable German assault on north-west Europe, known as the Battle of France, resulted in the capture and subjugation of not only France but three other countries – Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Belgium.
Its large population and vibrant colonial trade provided a potentially large tax base through which France could finance its military. As a consequence, France boasted the largest European army and a powerful navy.
In 1798, an Irish rebellion assisted by French troops defeated a numerically superior British force at Castlebar. Unfortunately, the rebellion didn't last long; it was all but over when the British won their war against the French.