James Maddison has identified the best possible way for England manager Gareth Southgate to neutralise the threat of France star Kylian Mbappe at the World Cup.
Mbappe, 23, has been in sensational goalscoring form for the 2018 World Cup champions and is leading the race for the Golden Boot in Qatar.
The Paris Saint-Germain superstar has scored five times and registered two assists in four matches at the World Cup, as France secured their place in the quarter-finals.
France finished top of Group D ahead of Australia, Tunisia and Denmark before comfortably beating Poland 3-1 in the last 16 at the Al-Thumama Stadium.
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England, on the other hand, secured a stunning 3-0 win over Senegal in the round of 16 to set up a quarter-final clash with France on 10th December.
Maddison, who was named in England’s 26-man squad for the World Cup, hailed France star Mbappe as a “fantastic player” ahead of the Three Lions’ match.
However, the 26-year-old Leicester City star believes that England teammate Kyle Walker could be the answer to stopping Mbappe at the Al-Bayt Stadium.
“He’s a fantastic player, one of the best in the world. I’m sure we’ll prepare right to try and stop him,” Maddison told talkSPORT.
“Kyle Walker started right-back in the game against Senegal. He’s one of the best full-backs in the world, I think if anyone can do a job, I think it’s him.
“But listen, France have a lot of threats, it’s not just Kylian Mbappe. They’re a brilliant team and that’s why they are reigning champions, we’ve got a lot to be wary of.
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“But the tactical work that we do, and the staff here, the work that goes on in the background that people don’t see will leave us in good stead hopefully, and hopefully we can progress.”
If England successfully knock the defending World Cup champions out in the quarter-finals, Southgate’s men would then face the winner of Morocco vs Portugal in the semi-finals on 14th December.
Topics: James Maddison, England, France, Football World Cup, Football, Kylian Mbappe
Adnan Riaz