England vs France: Olivier Giroud says Kylian Mbappe is best player he’s ever played with ahead of World Cup quarter-final | Football News

Olivier Giroud has named Kylian Mbappe the best striker he’s played alongside and has described the “bromance” the pair have ahead of France’s World Cup quarter-final with England.

Les Bleus tackle Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions in Saturday’s last-eight conflict, with former Arsenal and Chelsea striker Giroud set to line up alongside Mbappe within the French assault.

Giroud scored within the round-of-16 victory over Poland to interrupt Thierry Henry’s all-time goalscoring report for France, whereas Mbappe is at the moment main the Golden Boot charts at this World Cup, with 5 targets.

“Kylian is basically one of the best players I’ve played with,” Giroud mentioned in a press convention. “He is amazing and is still young which is scary as he can still improve.

“He is very environment friendly and, from the start of the competitors, he’s been essential for us – very decisive, very aggressive. He’s clearly the best striker I’ve played with in all of the groups I’ve played in.

“We’ve not seen the best of him, I hope it’s going to come soon and he will beat all the records. I know that and you know it as well.”

The 36-year-old’s aim in opposition to Poland within the last-16 got here from Mbappe’s defence-splitting move and Giroud described the “infectious enthusiasm” the 2 France forwards have.

“Football is so spontaneous that we can make movements like that. That goal came from that combination. Our relationship has always been good.

“Our relationship has all the time been good. And this infectious enthusiasm is one thing we need to share with the younger gamers and make our followers joyful.”

‘We don’t want to lose against England!’

Giroud has a terrific understanding of the English sport, having played Premier League soccer for Arsenal and Chelsea for 9 straight years between 2012 and 2021.

The France striker revealed he has been talking with nationwide group captain Hugo Lloris, who performs his membership soccer with Tottenham, about how a lot they need to keep away from a defeat to 1 of the nation’s large rivals.

“For England, they have had a good tournament,” Giroud added. “I hope they will have a tough game on Saturday.

“I do know this group very effectively, we have been speaking with Hugo relating to this sport and we mentioned we do not need to lose in opposition to England.

“It’s a special game for us. They have so many young players in this generation, I think they have quality but quantity also in the squad. They have different options and it will be a nice game to watch. I hope it’s going to go well for us.”

Giroud additionally spoke in regards to the hazard of England captain Harry Kane who, like Giroud, has 52 targets for his nationwide group and will additionally break the nationwide goalscoring report in Qatar. Kane is one aim behind Wayne Rooney’s complete of 53 for the Three Lions ahead of Saturday’s quarter-final.

“We have spoken with Hugo about him,” mentioned Giroud about Kane. “He’s a player with a similar profile to mine. He is big, powerful and he has done well in front of goal.

“I believe in these final months and years, he’s gone a bit deeper to become involved within the sport. I do not know if that is as a result of his coach, however he makes so much of passes.

“He’s still a goalscorer, yet he can find those key passes for his team-mates. There are similarities [to me] but there are some key differences.”

‘Lloris may help France cease Kane’

France assistant supervisor Guy Stephan additionally mentioned how Premier League-based goalkeeper Lloris may help France overcome England, with the keeper’s shut friendship with Tottenham striker Kane excessive up on the listing of causes.

“Hugo is very, very unfazed,” Stephan mentioned. “He will fight, I can say that as it’s likely he will play on Saturday. He’s played at a high-level career, 10 or 12 years at the highest level and is very rarely injured.

“He’s played with Harry Kane for just a few years. He is aware of the style during which he strikes the ball, the place he strikes. He is aware of how he makes use of his head and his runs too.

“That’s what you get when there are players who play for the same club. They will have a lot of things to say to each other when they go back to Tottenham.”

Stephan additionally predicted that France must concentrate on England’s extensive gamers in Saturday’s quarter-final, as that is the place their large menace is.

“The English team is a great team, one which is solid. It’s a team which has a lot of attacking areas,” Didier Deschamps’ assistant mentioned.

“Like many of these good teams at the World Cup, they’re great on the wings. You think of [Phil] Foden, [Marcus] Rashford, [Raheem] Sterling, they’re really quick on the wings.

“We should not neglect that they obtained to the ultimate of the Euros they usually have expertise. They can play heaps of formations, did very well in opposition to Senegal as a 4-3-3 and gained 3-0. They all the time play three attackers, however basically, they play with 5 defensive gamers in opposition to higher groups. Whether that is the case on Saturday, we wait and see.”

Giroud additionally agrees with that evaluation, particularly with England being the match’s prime goalscorers with 12 targets coming from eight completely different gamers.

“They have players who are quick on the wings,” Giroud added. “While they are dangerous in a lot of departments, that could be the key to the game. We will have to be solid defensively and block the flanks, but they’ll have to do the same as we’re quick as well.

“England are a whole group, good on set items as they’re an enormous group with good headers of the ball.”