Arsenal loanee Balogun's warning to England : Mbappe is a phenomenon

England will face France in a high profile 2022 World Cup quarterfinal clash at the Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor on Saturday night.

Of the many outstanding players at the disposal of manager Didier Deschamps, Arsenal-owned striker Folarin Balogun has warned England to be particularly wary of Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe. 

Mbappe is having a fantastic World Cup and has already scored five goals in the competition, one more than second placed Lionel Messi who has played one game more than his teammate at club level. 

England manager Gareth Southgate will have to come up with a plan to contain the leading scorer of the 2022 World Cup. 

Born in the United States to Nigerian parents, Balogun represents England at U21 level and is eagerly looking forward to the contest between the Three Lions and Les Bleus.

"Mbappé is a phenomenon but France also has many other talents, in attack but also elsewhere. There is my friend Saliba, a talented player with a future, which shows the quality of French football," Balogun said to L'Union. 

"I respect him (Mbappe) enormously. He is young, like me, I have always admired everything he has achieved for some time. He also plays in France in addition.

"I want to follow in his footsteps and have his impact. He has a lot of qualities against which England will have to be very vigilant."

Balogun remembers facing a France U18 side captained by William Saliba in an international friendly back in 2018.

"I was 17, we had won 3-1. I did not know him yet but there was Saliba who played in defense that day," he added. 

Balogun concluded by predicting that England and France will end in a 1-1 draw and the Three Lions will advance to the last four on penalties. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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