Kyle Walker has mentioned he will not “roll out the red carpet” for Kylian Mbappe throughout England’s conflict with France.
The Three Lions defender seems to be set to be confronted with containing the Paris Saint-Germain celebrity throughout Saturday’s quarter-final.
Mbappe has scored 5 targets and leads the race for the golden boot in Qatar with many speculating how England will attempt to maintain him off.
Walker, a Manchester City right-back, has mentioned he’s prepared for the problem and informed a press convention: “We respect that he is a good player in good form, but I am not going to roll out a red carpet for him and tell him to go and score.
“I’m representing my nation on the quarter-final of a World Cup, it is do or die actually. If we lose, we go dwelling. He’s not going to face in my manner of hopefully successful a World Cup for my nation.”
“I do understand what I need to do and that is to stop him,” he added.
“It’s in all probability simpler mentioned than performed, however I do not underestimate myself. I’ve performed towards plenty of nice gamers at Man City and England.
“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’s also playing England and we can cause them problems.”
Walker has come up towards Mbappe 4 occasions within the Champions League and has earned plaudits for the way he has beforehand handled the French ahead.
“Obviously it is always going to help because I’ve played against him a number of times now with Manchester City,” added Walker.
“He is a fantastic player in great form. It is not going to be an easy task, but as a professional footballer you want to play against the best and I think he is one of the best if not the best in the world at the moment.”
Further up the pitch, concern has been raised concerning England’s midfield after Declan Rice missed coaching by way of sickness.
The West Ham midfielder wasn’t current for coaching with the remainder of squad on Wednesday, simply three days forward of the conflict with France.
Other gamers who missed coaching embrace striker Callum Wilson, who has but to return to coaching after selecting up a muscle drawback following the last-16 win over Senegal, Raheem Sterling, who returned to the UK after intruders broke into his dwelling, and Ben White, who left Qatar for private causes final week.
Source: information.sky.com”