Kyle Walker won’t give ‘best in the world’ Kylian Mbappe ‘too much respect’

Kyle Walker has promised to make life as tough as possible on Kylian Mbappe when the pair go head-to-head in England’s quarter-final with France on Saturday.

The Manchester City star will not underestimate his own ability as the England full-back looks set to be tasked with shackling Mbappe in the World Cup quarter-final clash.

The pair have had many thrilling battles at club level in the Champions League and Walker’s Wednesday press conference was dominated by questions of how he can nullify the current top scorer in Qatar.

‘The game isn’t England v Mbappe, it’s England vs France,’ Walker said bullishly.

‘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.’

He added, when pressed on how someone as talented as Mbappe is stopped: ‘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. 

‘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.’

There have been suggestions England boss Gareth Southgate could opt for a back three for the quarter-final at Al Bayt Stadium, having stuck with a central defensive duo in the first four games.

Asked about his changing role in the different system, Walker said: “I don’t really bomb forward as much as I used to playing for Tottenham as a wing-back, it is about reading the game, the opponent, the formation the manager wants you to play in and adapting to that.

“I will do whatever the manager asks in terms of benefiting the team.”