Rio Ferdinand has dubbed England’s Kyle Walker the “only defender on the planet capable of containing France World Cup star Kylian Mbappe.”
Gary Neville, Ferdinand’s former Manchester United and England teammate, sees Manchester City full-back Walker as the ‘perfect’ player to neutralize Mbappe ahead of a potential quarter-final clash with France.
Mbappe, who helped France win the World Cup in Russia four years ago, has had a strong start to this season, scoring three goals in two games.
The Paris Saint-Germain superstar opened his tally in Qatar in France’s emphatic 4-1 win over Australia and then scored twice in a narrow 2-1 victory against Denmark.
Having already qualified for the knockout stages, France will likely play the runner-up from Group C, which is currently Argentina, although that could change as Lionel Messi’s side face Poland on Wednesday.
England secured the top spot in Group B with a comfortable 3-0 win over Wales on Tuesday night and will face African champions Senegal in the last 16.
A possible quarter-final clash with France awaits and while Didier Deschamps’ side looks like one of the strongest teams in Qatar, Old Trafford legends Ferdinand and Neville believe England’s Walker could nullify their star man Mbappe.
Walker was only deemed fit enough to be on the bench for England’s opening two group games but returned to the starting line-up against Wales, replacing Newcastle United’s Kieran Trippier.
‘I always thought we’d play three at the back in this tournament, but I don’t think we will now,’ Neville told Sky Sports when asked how he believes Gareth Southgate will set England up for the rest of the tournament.
‘I didn’t think the center-back pairing would be strong enough, but John Stones and Harry Maguire are holding up.
‘It’s whether what they’ve played against so far in the first three games is going to be anything like what they face moving forward, and I don’t think it is.
‘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.’
Ferdinand also addressed the potential England v France clash on his YouTube channel, adding: ‘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 Euros. He’s got the confidence to do that and he’s the only one capable of doing that I think.’
Neville, meanwhile, has praised Manchester United captain Harry Maguire for putting his inconsistent club form behind him and starring in Qatar.
‘I think he feels loved more by England maybe, I think he feels more at home,’ Neville said of Maguire.
‘During my career, I can’t think of one player who played better for their country than their club. Harry Maguire does. A number of players feel like that, Raheem Sterling in the first game against Iran.
‘I thought Harry would be left of a back three if he played at all. For him to play the games as he has is a massive success.
‘He’s a really good player, he’s just had an awful time at United. That’s a very unforgiving place, and if you don’t get it right it can eat you alive.
‘I think he’ll come through it at United, just look at Marcus. He’s been through a tough spell, but he’s come out the other side.
‘There are great players who I played with at United who went through the same experience, where it was tough for them for a period and they were better for it.’
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