‘I’m not going to roll out the red carpet for him’ – Kyle Walker warns Kylian Mbappe ahead of England vs France
KYLE WALKER has issued a warning to Kylian Mbappe ahead of England’s crunch World Cup clash with France.
The Manchester City full-back, 32, has enjoyed several battles against the 23-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward during the Champions League.
Now the whole planet will get to witness their next one with the both men set to come face-to-face again when the Three Lions face Les Bleus in the World Cup quarter-final on Saturday.
Mbappe, who gave the French a scare yesterday by sitting out training, comes in to the game in red-hot form.
He scored twice in the 3-1 victory over Poland in the last-16 to make him the tournament’s current top scorer with five.
However, many believe that Walker’s pace and experience make him the ideal man to stop the French’s most-dangerous player.
And the England star is adamant that no “red carpet” will be rolled out for the superstar as he warned him it’s “do or die” come kick-off at the Al-Bayt Stadium.
Speaking to the media today, Walker said: “The game isn’t England v Mbappe, it’s England vs France.
“We will give respect but I’m not going to roll out a red carpet for him to score. It’s do or die as if we lose we go home.
“I do understand what I need to do and that’s to stop him. It’s probably easier said than done but I don’t underestimate myself.
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“I’ve come across great players before so I just treat it like another game.
“I’ll give him the respect he deserves but not too much because this is England. No one player makes a team. This isn’t tennis, it isn’t a solo sport.”
Former England stars Gary Neville and Rio Ferdinand have both stated that boss Gareth Southgate possesses the “only defender on the planet” that can stop Mbappe in Walker.
Neville told Sky Sports: “It looks like a collision course waiting to happen doesn’t it? Mbappe versus Walker.
“We’ve got the perfect right back to deal with Mbappe if anyone can – physical, pace, experience.”
While Ferdinand told his YouTube channel: “For me, Kyle Walker is the only defender on the planet right now that will stand there and go to Mbappe: ‘Right, 1-v-1, let’s have a race’.
“He will back himself too. We saw it in the Euros. He’s got the confidence to do that and he’s the only one capable of doing that I think.”