World Cup: Kylian Mbappe misses France training ahead of England clash

Kylian Mbappe did not come out with his France team-mates for training on Tuesday just four days before their crunch World Cup quarter-final with England. 

The Paris Saint-Germain star is seen as England’s biggest threat going into Saturday’s match, as he tops the tournament’s scoring charts with five goals in four games. 

Mbappe had complained of an ankle injury going into the tournament but that has not affected his performances as he has arguably been the star player in Qatar.

Kylian Mbappe was absent from France’s training session four days before they play England

France’s players took part in a light open training session in front of journalists on Tuesday

Didier Deschamps will be keen to get Mbappe back on the training field as soon as possible

England’s players and staff will have been interested to see that Mbappe did not take to the field on Tuesday.

Traditionally players take part in recovery sessions in the day after matches.

However, it has been two days since Mbappe helped France into the quarter-finals following their 3-1 victory over Poland.

Other players who featured in the victory on Sunday did take part in on-field training on Tuesday including Olivier Giroud – who broke Thierry Henry’s all-time scoring record for France with 52. 

Les Bleus staff though have played down any concerns insisting that Mbappe is still doing some classic indoor recovery work following the clash with Poland. 

Other key players including Antoine Griezmann and Hugo Lloris were among those to train 

Olivier Giroud who became France’s all-time leading scorer was also part of training

Les Bleus staff said Mbappe is still doing recovery work two days after the win over Poland

His absence will have certainly been the biggest news among the truckload of English and Brazilian journalists who attended France’s open training session today.

However, they will have been disappointed as there was only about an hour of light exercise planned for key players.  

Mbappe still has plenty of time to return to full fitness ahead of the clash with the Three Lions, with the two sides not playing until Saturday. 

The 23-year-old’s match-up against Kyle Walker on the flank against England will be one of the most eagerly anticipated when the two European heavyweights meet up.

Any injury concern for Mbappe will be music to the ears of Walker and England, with the pacy forward seen as essential for his country’s hopes of retaining the trophy that they lifted in 2018.