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Kylian Mbappe has been warned Kyle Walker can thwart him at the World Cup (Image: GETTY)
Kyle Walker is England's secret weapon to stop Kylian Mbappe, claims Theo Walcott. The Three Lions could face Mbappe's France side in the quarter-final of the World Cup in Qatar.
Kyle Walker has been stepping up his match sharpness with England at the World Cup (Image: GETTY)
Walker is stepping up his return to full match fitness having played the first 57 minutes of the 3-0 win over Wales on Tuesday. It was his first competitive action since October 2 after undergoing groin surgery.
England take on Senegal in the round of 16 on Sunday and Kieran Trippier could return to the side. But Gareth Southgate may be tempted to keep Walker in the team to further improve his match sharpness.
France are among the favourites to win the competition and Mbappe is in a strong position to win the Golden Boot, having scored three times in the group stage. Didier Deschamps' side face Poland in their round of 16 clash on Sunday.
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They are expected to win to potentially set up a clash with England. But former Three Lions winger Walcott has warned Mbappe that Southgate will unleash Walker in order to thwart him.
Walcott, who scored eight goals in 47 caps for England, told talkSPORT: “I would love to see it. I really would.
“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. I couldn’t tell you who would win that – because Mbappe is a different beast, he’s on a different level at the moment.”
Walcott's view is also shared by former England skipper Rio Ferdinand. The ex-Manchester United defender says Walker is the only player who can match Mbappe for pace at the entire tournament.
Ferdinand said on his YouTube show Vibe with Five: “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.”
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