Mbappe returns to training ahead of England clash
Kylian Mbappe is poised to face England in the World Cup quarter-final today after being pictured in team training.
There were concerns the Paris Saint-Germain star had picked up a knock and may have been a doubt for today’s crunch knockout clash with Gareth Southgate‘s side after he missed Tuesday’s session with Les Bleus.
But training pictures on Thursday show the tournament’s leading goalscorer Mbappe participating fully with his team-mates in a blow to Three Lions fans who had hoped he would be ruled out.
Mbappe missed Tuesday’s session, four days before the clash, with staff saying it was due to ‘ongoing recovery work’ after their last-16 win over Poland on Sunday, despite team-mates like Olivier Giroud, who also played in that match, being involved.
On Wednesday, France team-mate IbrahimaKonate said at a press conference: ‘We haven’t really spoken about it at all. He was just resting yesterday (Tuesday).
‘He had a different kind of training session to do. There was nothing worrying about that. Nothing surprising either.’
The 23-year-old is undoubtedly France’s biggest threat heading into the game, currently leading the race for the Golden Boot with five goals in four games.
Mbappe will go head-to-head with England right-back Kyle Walker in what is one of the most eagerly-anticipated match-ups of the tournament.
Walker, who many deem as the best candidate in world football to negate Mbappe’s blistering pace, earlier on Wednesday promised to make life as uncomfortable as possible for the young star.
‘The game isn’t England v Mbappe, it’s England vs France,’ he said. ‘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.’
‘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. –Mailonline
‘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.’