A titanic clash is set to transpire in the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cup on Saturday as holders France will test themselves against Gareth Southgate’s ever-improving Three Lions outfit who are on the hunt to better their campaign from four years ago in Russia.
But earlier reports that Les Bleus star Kylian Mbappé had missed a recent training session initially threw both fanbases for a loop after it was first thought that the Paris Saint-Germain star may be at risk for missing out on proceedings at Al Bayt Stadium.
Those initial rumors have been put to bed by France insider and ESPN journalist Julien Laurens, however, who shed light on why the 23-year-old had not reported with the rest of the team.
Mbappé's five goals thus far in Qatar see him sit atop the goalscoring chart after the Paris native has, once again, produced one scintillating display after the next at his second World Cup in the wake of his heroics back in 2018 that helped lift France to its second tournament win.
Set to go head-to-head with veteran England defender Kyle Walker in a resumption of a clash seen at club level in the Champions League, many have tipped that potential duel as arguably the key match-up on the night that could make or break the chances of both nations on trying to push for a finals appearance.
With Mbappé cleared for action, the World Cup has thankfully not been stripped of arguably the next star to pick up the mantel from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
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