Football

World Cup 2022: Lloris Says Mbappe ‘Ignoring Talk’ ahead of England Clash

World Cup 2022: Lloris Says Mbappe ‘Ignoring Talk’ ahead of England Clash
01 Hugo LLORIS (fra) during the French Team Football - press conference on December 9, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Anthony Bibard/FEP/Icon Sport)

France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has claimed that his side’s star striker Kylian Mbappe is “ignoring the talk about him,” before France’s quarter-final clash with England in the 2022 World Cup on Saturday.

The ‘keeper was quoted in a recent press conference, where he said his teammate Mbappe, who is the leading scorer in Qatar so far, is staying focused.

Lloris Speaks at Press Conference

The Mbappe Impact

The 23-year old PSG striker has five goals to his name at this year’s World Cup so far, and there has been much talk of how much of a threat he will pose to the England defense as the big quarter-final clash approaches.

Lloris said that the forward was not feeling any huge pressure ahead of the fixture.

“He is focused on his objectives and seems very happy, as he has since the tournament began,” the Tottenham Hotspur ‘keeper said.

“He is preparing very well and he is ignoring the talk about him,” he added.

France have remained unbeaten at major tournaments in all 13 games that Mbappe has been named in the starting lineup. In those games the PSG star has been directly involved in 12 goals, according to the BBC. An impressive stat reads that he has either scored or assisted France’s past seven world Cup goals.

The English media have talked up the role of  pacey Manchester City fullback, Kyle Walker, in dealing with the speed of Mbappe on the wing. The pair have faced each other at club level in European competition before on three occasions, with Walker’s side coming out on top twice.

The French View

France manager, Didier Deschamps, who has won the World Cup once as a player and once as a manager, has also had his say on the Mbappe versus England narrative.

“England will have prepared for Kylian, but he is in a position to make the difference,” Deschamps told the media.

“Even in his last match he wasn’t at his best, not in top form, but he was still decisive,” the manager said of Mbappe’s two-goal performance in France’s 3-1 win over Poland. 

“We have other players, but Kylian is Kylian and he always will be,” he explained, pointing out the importance of the young striker to his side.

Deschamps also complimented his opposition’s manager, Gareth Southgate, saying he is a “very good coach.”

“I very much like Gareth,” he said, “We have met on a number of occasions and have talked about a number of things.

“Not everyone appreciates him so much in his own country, that isn’t because he wasn’t a good footballer himself – he had a long and distinguished career and he is also a very good coach,” he told reporters at the gathering.

Kane vs. Lloris

England captain Harry Kane will come up against his Spurs teammate Lloris in this fixture, and hope to score at least his second goal of the tournament past his club colleague.

Kane failed to score in the group stages although he did assist in a number of his teammate’s goals. The Russia 2018 Golden-Boot winner did get off the mark in the round of 16 though, netting against Senegal.

 


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