Kylian Mbappe MISSES training and spotted in recovery room with ankle injury days before World Cup clash with England
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KYLIAN MBAPPE has handed France a major injury scare just days before their World Cup quarter-final clash with England.
The tournament’s five goal top scorer was missing from training last night after complaining of a niggling ankle injury.
And though Didier Deschamps’ coaching staff insisted he was simply doing recovery work in the gym, his absence has sparked fears in the French camp that he could miss Saturday’s game against England.
The whole squad were given Monday off to recover after the 3-1 win against Poland the previous day and Mbappe was the only player not to return to full training today.
The 23-year-old PSG superstar has been in sensational form all tournament and is the player Gareth Southgate’s men fear more than anyone.
France’s 52-goal record scorer Olivier Giroud knows just how important Mbappe is to his country’s hopes of retaining the title they won in Russia four years ago.
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He said: “Kylian is obviously the best striker I have played with in all of my career.
“He is an amazing player and the scary thing is that he is still young and is only going to improve.
“We’ve still not seen the best of him and I hope it will come soon because we know that he is going to break all the records.
“Right from the beginning of this competition he has been crucial for us, very decisive and competitive. He is unbelievable.”
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Deschamps’ assistant coach Guy Stephan went even further, insisting: “Kylian is off the planet with his skills.
“He has already scored nine goals at the World Cup and he’s not even 24. Even Ronaldo and Messi hadn’t scored that many at his age. He’s among the absolute elite.”
England legend Gary Neville identified England speedster Kyle Walker as Mbappe's Kryptonite.
Neville told Sky Sports: "I always thought we'd play three at the back in this tournament, but I don't think we will now.
"I didn't think the centre-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."
Rio Ferdinand has echoed his former Manchester United team-mate's comments, as has Aston Villa right-back Matty Cash, who was tasked with stopping Mbappe while turning out for Poland.
