Kalvin Phillips believes if anyone is going to keep it tight against the free-scoring French, it is his Yorkshire mates.
As the clock ticks down towards the epic showdown in the Al Bayt Stadium, all the talk in the France camp is of how Kylian Mbappe and his attacking cohorts are going to give England’s defence a torrid time.
The French media seem convinced there are serious question marks over each and every one of what seems certain to be Gareth Southgate’s back four but Leeds-born Phillips is having none of it. And he reckons England can boast one of the most accomplished centre-halves in global football in the form of Barnsley-born John Stones.
"I believe John is one of the best centre-halves in the world right now," said Phillips, who will have to be content with a place on the bench on Saturday night. "I’m not just saying it because I’m good friends with him, I genuinely believe that.
"He’s one of the best centre-halves in the game. The way he plays at City, he’s brought it into this England team. He just seems so comfortable. He’s very composed on the ball. He defends really well. Going forward he’s probably one of the best you can have distributing the ball."
And Phillips reckons Stones and Harry Maguire, who came through the Sheffield United ranks, is the stand-out defensive pairing of Qatar 2022.
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The Manchester City midfielder went on: "John’s partnership with Harry is amazing. They understand each other so well. They feed off each other and help each other out. I think, as of now, it’s been the best centre-half partnership at the World Cup."
In the time Stones and Maguire have been together on the pitch at this tournament, England have only conceded one goal but the attacking threat posed by Iran, the United States, Wales and Senegal was hardly considerable.
It will be a completely different story against the Mbappe-led French attack. But Phillips has no doubt that Kyle Walker, one of Sheffield’s finest, is the man to keep Kylian quiet. He said: "If there is anyone I would like to put up to stop Mbappe, it is Kyle Walker because I believe he is an unbelievable defender and probably the only one that is quicker than him.
"He’s probably the quickest player I’ve ever seen play football. A lot of people ask that question about how quick he is but you can’t put into words how quick he is. You just have to see him out on the training pitch or in a one-v-one against a really quick player... which we will see soon."
And even if Mbappe and France get the better of Walker and England, it is clear Phillips would love Southgate to carry on as England boss. Phillips said: "I think people underestimate how good a manager Gareth is. A lot of people don’t give him credit for how he has nurtured this team into winning games and becoming one of the best countries in the world. Don’t forget, he’s got lots of tough decisions to make - leave people on the bench - but he is an unbelievable man manager."
And he lives in Harrogate.
