Kyle Walker needs to have 'the game of his life' to silence Kylian Mbappe as Stuart Pearce explains Declan Rice's key role when England face France in crunch clash at World Cup

Stuart Pearce has outlined the special plans England must make to nullify the threat of Kylian Mbappe.

The Three Lions have set up a mouth-watering quarter-final clash with France after conquering Senegal with a 3-0 victory in the Round of 16 at the World Cup.

Getty 5 Mbappe is in the form of his life during this World Cup, netting five goals in the tournament so far

Advertisement

Getty 5 And Gareth Southgate needs to find a way to stop him

Coming up against Didier Deschamps’ side will be a real acid test of just how good Gareth Southgate’s England group actually are, especially as they go toe-to-toe with the world’s most exciting player.

Mbappe is absolutely on fire at the moment with the Paris Saint-Germain star already bagging five goals for France in this year’s competition, and Stuart Pearce admits England will have their work cut out.

Advertisement

Asked how you stop Mbappe, Pearce told talkSPORT: “Kyle Walker’s going to have to have the game of his life, there’s no doubting that.

“We’re going to have to stop the supply line to him.

“They’ve got a front four and real talent in that front four with Mbappe being the pick of the lot with his pace, his energy and his goal threat.

“You’ve got to stop the ball coming into him and then double up on him when he’ got the ball. To do that, you’ve got to press aggressively.”

Advertisement

Getty 5 Walker will be tasked with marking Mbappe

Most read in Football CLASH England 3-0 Senegal LIVE: Superb Three Lions book quarter-final meeting with France ABSENT Sterling leaves England World Cup squad after family home targeted by armed raiders road England's possible route to Qatar 2022 World Cup final with dates and times confirmed NOT HAPPY 'Fake news' - Brazil coach Tite slams 'evil lies' about Jesus' knee injury FELINE England star Walker jokes he'll adopt 'Dave' the cat if they win the World Cup OUT Man United explain why Jadon Sancho will miss training camp in Spain

Advertisement

Asked if England should set up to catch France on the counter, Pearce said: “It might well be the situation as people point out.

“We’re probably a better side on the counter-attack so we might be a better side playing against better teams.

“Part of my bemoaning is when the opposition drops off like they did today, I don’t think we were particularly cute at playing through them with our holding midfielders.

Advertisement

“Yes, we’ll have to do that next week and it might be a game for the counter-attack.”

Historically, England have played with a back three in big competitions but this tournament has seen the Three Lions revert to a back four, something that Pearce believes should remain the case against Les Bleus.

He said: “I expect us to play with a four at the back, it’s just a case of whether he plays with a two, Declan [Rice] and another, rather than just Declan on his own with an advanced Bellingham or an advanced Henderson, whoever it may be.

5 Pearce thinks that Rice will have a key role to play in nullifying France’s threat

Advertisement

Getty 5 Henderson and Bellingham will also have their work cut out

“Henderson can play that role, it’s no problem for him. He’s probably the best out of him and Bellingham if you’re keeping the same three to play in the engine room.

“I wouldn’t be playing three centre-halves. We’ve come this far with a four, the French will play with a four and so I don’t see the need to change, I really don’t.”

Pearce added: “I understand the thought process [regarding a three-man defence]. We’ve gone with a three at times because the two have looked shaky, but I’m not sure how shaky they’ve looked in this tournament.

Advertisement

“I think that John Stones and Harry Maguire have been consistent performers in all of the games. The other one for me would be one of those midfielders who might have to sit in so that it’s a box of four.

“From there, if we’ve got threat from the left-hand side is to slide Rice over to double-up on the left side.”

Click here to read article