Kylian Mbappe and France look capable of retaining the World Cup despite some untimely injuries, but Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville believe England's Kyle Walker can stop the Paris Saint-Germain star.
Mbappe was named young player of the tournament in 2018, scoring in the final as France beat Croatia to win the World Cup for a second time. He already has three goals in Qatar - one against Australia and two against Denmark - to help Didier Deschamps' team top their group with a game to spare.
France will take on Poland in the round of 16, with a quarter-final with England on the horizon if Gareth Southgate's team can get past Senegal. Manchester City defender Walker made his first start of the tournament in the victory over Wales, and has been backed to handle Mbappe if push comes to shove.
"I always thought we’d play three at the back in this tournament, but I don’t think we will now," Neville told Sky Sports ahead of England's meeting with Senegal. "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," he added. Walker's preparations were disrupted by injury, but the 32-year-old returned to the bench for the draw with the United States before playing 57 minutes against Wales.
"It looks like a collision course waiting to happen doesn't it?" Neville added. "Mbappe versus Walker. We've got the perfect right-back to deal with Mbappe if anyone can - physical, pace, experience."
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Ferdinand shared Neville's opinion. "For me, Kyle Walker is the only defender on the planet right now that will stand there and go to Mbappe: 'Right, 1-v-1, let’s have a race.'," the former centre-back said on his Vibe with Five YouTube show.
"He will back himself too. We saw it in the Euros. He’s got the confidence to do that and he’s the only one capable of doing that I think."
Walker and Mbappe have faced off before for club and country. The England defender played the second half of a 3-2 defeat in 2017 as Mbappe failed to score, and was also on the winning side for City in the 2021-22 Champions League despite the PSG man breaking the deadlock.
Mbappe has scored 31 times for France since making his international debut as a teenager in 2017. The record for the country stands at 51, with Olivier Giroud drawing level with Thierry Henry thanks to his double against Australia in Qatar.
