Kylian Mbappe is FIT to play England in World Cup quarter-final insists France team-mate

Kylian Mbappé will be ready to play the quarterfinals of the World Cup between France and England, assures his teammate Ibrahima Konate.

The 23-year-old was absent from training on Tuesday, raising concerns about his fitness ahead of Saturday night’s decisive clash.

Konate insisted there was “nothing to worry about”, however he revealed that Mbappe was only “resting” after starring in France’s 3-1 win over Poland in the round of 16.

Kylian Mbappe will be ready to play England in Saturday’s quarter-final, Ibrahima Konate insists

Konate (left) claims World Cup top scorer Mbappe was simply “resting” as he sat out France’s training session on Tuesday.

Speaking at the France press conference, Konate said: ‘We haven’t really talked about it at all.

I was resting yesterday. She had a different kind of training session to do. There was nothing worrisome about it. Nothing surprising either.

The Paris Saint-Germain star is undoubtedly France’s biggest threat heading into the game, currently leading the Golden Boot race with five goals in four games.

But concerns were raised after Les Bleus staff confirmed that Mbappé did not take part in France’s training session on Tuesday due to ongoing recovery work, despite the fact that others who took part in the same match, including striker Olivier, took part. Giroud.

The news was particularly worrying as Mbappe had complained of an ankle injury ahead of the tournament.

Mbappé will now go head-to-head with English right-back Kyle Walker on Saturday night, in what is one of the most highly anticipated clashes of the tournament.

Mbappé will now go head-to-head with England full-back Kyle Walker in one of the most anticipated clashes of the tournament.

But Walker has vowed not to “roll out the red carpet” in the all-important quarterfinal clash.

Walker, who is considered by many to be the best candidate in world football to counter Mbappe’s breakneck pace, vowed on Wednesday to make life as uncomfortable as possible for the young star.

“The game is not England against Mbappé, it is England against France,” Walker said optimistically at the Three Lions press conference. “We’ll give him respect, but I’m not going to roll out a red carpet for him to score.” It’s do or die like we lose and go home.

He added, when asked how you stop someone as talented as Mbappe: “I understand what I have to do and that is to stop him.” This is probably easier said than done, but I don’t underestimate myself.

“I’ve met great players before, so I treat it like another game.

I’ll give him the respect he deserves, but not too much because this is England. No player makes a team. This is not tennis, this is not a solo sport.

As for England, Gareth Southgate’s side suffered a scare ahead of the game as Declan Rice missed training on Wednesday due to illness.

Declan Rice (left) and Callum Wilson missed England training in Qatar on Wednesday

Rice has started all four of England’s games so far, playing a pivotal role in their smooth progression to the quarter-finals.

However, it is unclear how this will affect the West Ham midfielder’s availability for the last eight games.

England could also be without Callum Wilson, who was absent with a minor strain from which he is recovering.

The winner of Saturday’s clash between France and England will play either Morocco or Portugal in the semi-final, which begins at 7pm on Wednesday 14 December.