England kept their slim Rugby League World Cup hopes alive with a victory over France. However, they still face a challenging road to reach the semi-finals after an initial heavy 30-12 defeat to Tonga in their tournament opener.

The unique format of this year's 10-team tournament means that only the top two teams from combined Groups B and C will progress. Currently, England sits with two points and has one remaining group stage match against Papua New Guinea on Friday (9.05am kick-off).

Key scenarios for England's qualification include:

• Victory over Papua New Guinea: England must secure a convincing win to enhance their points difference.
• Tonga vs Samoa: England's fate hinges on Tonga defeating Samoa on November 1. A Tonga win would allow points difference to determine the second spot.

Despite England needing to improve their +64 points difference, they do not need to win by an exact margin of 68 points. However, a larger victory would ease their path to qualification if Tonga loses.

If England wins, they must then wait for the outcome of the Tonga vs Samoa match. A Samoa victory guarantees England's elimination, while a Tonga win would keep their hopes alive, pending points difference.

The winner of the combined Groups B and C table will face the runner-up from Group A, which comprises Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and the Cook Islands. The semi-finals are set for November 7 and 8, with the final in Brisbane on November 15.

In women's competition, England faces Samoa in a crucial match on Friday, where the winner secures a semi-final spot against the top team from Group B.