France’s forward Kylian Mbappe heads the ball during a training session. AFP
France coach Didier Deschamps is hopeful Kylian Mbappe can make an impact against a “strong” England side in tonight’s World Cup quarter-final showdown at Al Bayt Stadium.
Deschamps rated England a quality side with dangerous individuals but he expected his in-form forward to make a difference in the blockbuster.
The 23-year-old scored a brace in France’s 3-1 win over Poland in the last 16 stage, taking his goals tally to five in Qatar.
France’s players take part in a training session at Al Sadd SC Stadium in Doha, yesterday. AFP
England have said they will take measures to contain the Paris Saint-Germain forward but Deschamps said Mbappe can still play a decisive role.
“I imagine England will make arrangements like our previous four opponents. But, Kylian has this ability to be able to make differences,” Deschamps told a press conference yesterday.
“Even in the last game [against Poland], where he was not at his best as compared to the first two matches, he was still decisive. Kylian will always remain Kylian, with this ability to remain decisive at all times,” said the Frenchman, who has won the World Cup with France as a player and as a coach.
Deschamps, however, warned England have capabilities that can hurt his reigning champions.
“England are very strong in transitions - more than half of their goals have come from quick counter-attacks. But they have other qualities too — they have technical ability, the capacity to score goals and ability on set-pieces.”
French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris echoed his coach saying England will be tough to beat.
“They (England) are good on set-pieces, they’re tall, they have players who can take good free kicks. We have to be very strong, but our attack has what it takes and can make it difficult for them.”
England’s players take part in a training session at Al Wakrah SC yesterday. AFP
‘Mbappe a winner’
Meanwhile, England manager Gareth Southgate said France are strong side comprising quality players and only Mbappe would not be a threat for his team.
“We always wanted to give Kyle [Walker] the opportunity to be fit as he has been a very important player for us over the last six years,” said Southgate when asked if Kyle Walker can contain the French forward.
“We have managed that process well with his reintroduction to the team. Kyle is ready.”
He added: “We are talking about one of the opposition but we play France who are a fantastic team and we are aware of all of their players and the quality of their whole squad.”
“Didier [Deschamps] has created a team that is stronger than the individuals, which maybe wasn’t always the case. We have to be at our very best to win the game,” he said.
The England coach added his team will be prepared for a possible penalty scenario in the crunch game.
“We have a plan but of course when you get to the end of a game maybe some players don’t feel as confident or are more confident or have an injury. We have had all those situations before.”
Southgate said Raheem Sterling trained with the team after returning from home yesterday.
“He wanted to train today which normally we wouldn’t do after being on a long flight but it was a lighter session so there was no risk. He will be involved tomorrow but what that looks like, we have to decide. It is hard to tell what his level is so we will have to assess that.”
Meanwhile, England captain Harry Kane was expecting a tough challenge from Mbappe.
“Mbappe is a fantastic player and he has proven that. He’s a winner so we’re expecting a tough game. He’s one of the players that can cause a threat.”
When: Today at 10:00pm
Where: Al Bayt Stadium
Capacity: 68,895
Key stats:
- England have scored 12 goals in four games at this year's World Cup - the joint most at a single major tournament, level with their 2018 World Cup run when they reached the semi-finals.
- Kylian Mbappe has scored five times in four games, surpassing his goal tally from his previous appearance in the tournament in 2018, when France won the World Cup.
- Harry Kane overtook Gary Lineker as England's all-time top scorer at major tournaments, with his goal against Senegal taking his tally to 11. With 52 goals for England, he is one behind Wayne Rooney's all-time record.
- France are the first reigning champions to reach the World Cup quarter-finals since Brazil in 2006. Spain and Germany suffered group-stage exits in 2014 and 2018.
Previous meetings:
- England hold the upper hand over 31 previous meetings, with 17 wins compared to France's nine, but 10 of those victories were before 1950. England have lost four times and won twice this century.
- The teams have met twice at World Cups, with England winning on both occasions - 2-0 in 1966 group stage en route to winning their only title and 3-1 in 1982, when they were eliminated in the second group stage.
