• World Cup 2022

Walcott names England defender who can control Mbappe

Kylian Mbappe
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France and England will meet in the World Cup quarter-finals if they both survive the last-16 round.

Kylian Mbappe will ‘struggle’ against Kyle Walker if England face France in the World Cup, according to former England international Theo Walcott.

Mbappe is currently leading the World Cup’s top-scorer with three goals. The Paris Saint-Germain striker has found a brilliant start to the World Cup, helping France reach the last-16 round as group leaders.

The Blues will take on Poland in the next round while England lock horns with Senegal. The possibility of the two sides’ meeting has already got pundits speculating about the quarter-finals. 

Speaking to talkSPORT, Walcott said: “I would love to see it, I really would.

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“I feel like Mbappe would struggle against his [Walker’s] physicality, if I’m honest.

“He plays in the French league, which is a different kettle of fish to the Premier League and Walker has so much experience in the Champions League. 

“So it would be a great test. I think we all want to see it.”

He added: “I couldn’t tell you who would win that – because Mbappe is a different beast, he’s on a different level at the moment.”

Both France and England will play their respective last-16 games on Sunday. In case they both come out on top, the two European giants will meet in the quarter-finals six days later.

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