Kylian Mbappe called Kyle Walker “a weird guy” last year as the two prepare to face off in a World Cup battle on Saturday.

The PSG star is renowned for his speed and will be the center of attention for Gareth Southgate’s men in their monumental clash with France.

It is Manchester City full-back Walker who will be tasked with stopping the France star as England take on Les Bleus in the World Cup quarter-finals in Qatar.

Mbappe has previously spoken about his next opponent and his words have resurfaced ahead of the match. He said: “Walker is weird, he doesn’t start fast, he’s not explosive, but when he starts running he’s like a tank.”

With speed being such a vital weapon in both players’ arsenals, the two are likely to go head-to-head on many occasions. Walker has already spoken about the battle ahead but was keen to reiterate that Mbappe is not England’s only focus.

He said: “The game is not England v Mbappe, it is England v France. We will respect him but we will not roll out the red carpet for him to score. It is a vital game because we are losing we are going home.

“I understand what I have to do and that’s to stop him. Maybe it’s easier said than done, but I don’t underestimate myself. I’ve faced big players before, so I look at it like any other game .

“I will give him the respect he deserves, but not too much because this is England. No one player makes a team. This is not tennis, it is not a solo sport.”

The 32-year-old has started England’s last two games after missing the start of the tournament through injury. The pair have previously met at club level when Manchester City faced PSG in the Champions League. Mbappe currently leads the list of top scorers at the World Cup with five goals so far in the competition.

France progressed to the quarter-final stage with a 3-1 win over Poland and will be looking to recreate their performance against England at the Al Bayt Stadium. The Three Lions are also in great form after a 3-0 win over Senegal.