England vs France: Kyle Walker says Three Lions will not roll out red carpet for Kylian Mbappe in World Cup quarter-final | Football News

England defender Kyle Walker says France star Kylian Mbappe will not “stand in my way of winning a World Cup” because the pair put together for their tempo battle in Saturday’s quarter-final conflict.

Mbappe, who’s on the right track to take the Golden Boot with 5 targets in 4 video games, returned to full coaching with the France staff on Wednesday after present process a restoration session away from the squad on Tuesday.

Walker has been branded as England’s antidote to Mbappe’s attacking risk and the 32-year-old says he will not “roll out the red carpet” for the ahead.

“I think the game’s not England vs Mbappe, it’s England vs France,” Walker instructed a press convention on Wednesday.

“We respect that he’s a very good participant in good type, however I’m not going to roll out a red carpet for him and inform him to go and rating.

“I’m representing my country at the quarter-final in a World Cup, it’s do or die really. If we lose, we go home. He’s not going to stand in my way of winning a World Cup for my country.”

‘Don’t neglect Giroud, Dembele and Griezmann’

Walker has come up in opposition to Mbappe 4 instances in his profession, when his Manchester City aspect have taken on the Frenchman’s Paris Saint-Germain aspect in the Champions League.

City received three out of the 4 encounters, with Mbappe scoring simply as soon as – an equaliser in their most up-to-date encounter which the Premier League aspect received 2-1.

“When we’ve played in the four times against PSG for Man City in the Champions League, you’re not just thinking about Mbappe,” Walker added. “I think it is exactly the same on Saturday.

“He’s a device in their armoury that is excellent, however there are different good gamers and we won’t underestimate them. [They have] gamers which have received huge titles, received World Cups.

“So OK, he [Mbappe] is a great player, we know that – that is why all of the questions are about him.

“But let’s not neglect about Olivier Giroud, who has scored numerous targets for France and in the Premier League. Ousmane Dembele, who for me is simply pretty much as good on the opposite wing and a really tough participant. And then you’ve gotten Antoine Griezmann – these gamers may cause you an issue.

“We take our hat off to him, he is a great player. But for me all of the questions shouldn’t be about him. We should appreciate that we are seeing a great footballer, but there are other players as well.”

When requested if he understands why there may be a lot hype about this particular person battle, Walker mentioned: “Of course I do, I play football. I understand what I need to do and that is obviously to stop him. It’s probably easier said than done.

“But I do not underestimate myself. As I mentioned earlier than, I’ve performed him earlier than and are available up in opposition to nice gamers in my time taking part in for England, Man City and the golf equipment I’ve performed for.

“I have to treat it as another game. I have to take extra care and give him the respect he deserves, but not too much respect because he is also playing England and we can cause him problems.

“It goes to be a tricky sport, however not one participant makes a staff.”

Experts on the Walker vs Mbappe battle:

Sky Sports’ Gary Neville:

“I’m sure Kyle will stay in at right-back. That seems like a collision course waiting to happen, doesn’t it?

“Mbappe vs Walker, it looks like we have now the right defender to cope with Mbappe. If anybody can cope with him and his physicality, tempo and expertise.”

Sky Sports’ Alan Smith:

“We’ll all be taking a look at that Mbappe-Kyle Walker match up.

“It was fascinating listening to Matty Cash playing for Poland. He said he looked at the videos and everything, but when it came down to it, if he got tight, he’d spin it and if he stood off, he’d race past him. But then he gets the ball in the box. and he puts it top-right and top-left.

“He [Mbappe] is in such incredible type. I feel he is the perfect participant in the world in the intervening time, so that you want a little bit of luck.”

Poland defender Matty Cash, who marked Mbappe in the World Cup last-16 spherical:

“He’s amazing, obviously unbelievable, probably my toughest opponent. I’d have said before that Raheem Sterling was my toughest opponent. Sterling’s rapid but I think Mbappe is electric. He’s the quickest.

“He’s a distinct stage. I play in the Premier League week-in, week-out, and I play in opposition to top-class wingers, however he is simply going to be the perfect participant in the world. Speed, motion, have a look at his ending. He’s obtained all the things. He put two in the highest nook, one in the left and one in the precise.

“I didn’t know whether to drop off or go tight. When I went tight he just spun in behind. When he gets the ball, stops and moves, he’s the quickest thing I’ve ever seen. When he stands you up and moves, he does it really well. He drops the shoulder, goes short then long.

“Their game plan is to get the ball to the wingers and when it’s one-v-one you’ve got to try and stop him. I did everything I could, when it was one-v-one I thought I’d done OK against him. I got into a couple of races with him and I did alright. You look over your shoulder and he’s there.

“He did not actually run me as soon as. There had been instances the place he obtained area on the counter-attack, which is the place he scored the second purpose and that was the sport changer, once they went 2-0 up. That’s the place he hurts groups. He’s most likely in the highest two or three gamers in the world on the minute.

“Kyle Walker is just as quick as Mbappe. He’s England’s best right-back and he’s got way more experience than me. I don’t need to tell him anything. So if anyone’s going to stop Mbappe, Kyle Walker is the man. He’s rapid as well.”