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Horse Racing Talking football with... Mikael SIlvestre: Good luck to whoever is playing against Mbappe, England vs France is like a final
With two titans set to collide in the World Cup quarter-final, we sat down with Mikael Sil- vestre to break down how France and England will do in the matchup. He talked about the Kylian Mbappe-Kyle Walker matchup and gave his combined England-France XI. Silvestre also gave his views on the best players at the World Cup so far, Gabriel Jesus’ injury and performances from Man Utd players at the tournament.
Safe to call France vs England the final before the final?
“Based on the current form of both sides, alongside with Brazil, I think it could be a final.”
“Unfortunately this is not the final. It’s coming way sooner! One team will be extremely disappointed and one team will go on and build confidence for the semi-final.”
“So, it is a massive fixture in the tournament for sure, because of the nations’ ranking and also the way they’ve been playing and advancing into this round.”
France and England seem to be close in terms of football level. Can the French envy the Three Lions of any of the players?
“They are close in terms of the level and performances, both collective and individual. It’s quite even. It will be a tight game.”
“It’s a decisive one, could go to extra-time because they are that close in terms of level.”
“It will be an excellent match, hopefully.”
“There’s no one in the England side that I see walking straight into the France team.”
Kyle Walker is being touted as the only right-back who can render Mbappe ineffective.
Do you agree with that? Will Mbappe have a great game against England?
“The matchup for pace (vs Mbappe) is more for Kyle Walker than Kieran Trippier. No doubt.”
“But Kylian is not just a one-dimensional player. Being quick against him won’t be enough. You solve one problem but not everything.”
“I just have to say good luck to whoever is going to play against him.”
“He’s been giving very good performances and we expect him to continue. No extra pressure. He knows how to handle big occasions now.”
“He’s in full confidence. Whether it’s England or Brazil or Portugal or Netherlands or Argentina, it doesn’t matter to him. He’ll try his best and I’m sure he’ll find a way to find the back of the net.”
What have you made of Antoine Griezmann playing in a deeper role for France?
“Griezmann has adapted to this position extremely well. He’s making good use of his delivery, short and long, and on set-pieces as well.”
“With Rabiot and Tchouameni in midfield, he’s bringing a little bit extra. He’s wiser and he has the capacity to find pockets of space and create a difference to find Mbappe and Giroud and Dembele.”
Which part of the pitch do you think France are better than England, and where do you think England are better?
“I think it’s quite even everywhere except maybe France don’t have a natural right-back and Kounde has to fill for that position. He’s doing his best but we know that’s not his natural position.”
“The rest, I think it’s a level playing field.”
Adrien Rabiot has been a very good performer this season. Do you think the Tchoua-meni-Rabiot duo will help Deschamps forget about the Pogba-Kante midfield duo?
“We’re past Kante and Pogba. When you know you have to start the tournament without the main guys from four years ago, you have to find the right players and the balance.”
“It’s taking time but I think they’re getting along well and they complement one another. And I think they’ve found a good understanding.”
“What they have to make sure is they cover ground and don’t leave any gaps in midfield.”
“So far, so good.”
“Against England, they need to track back the runners – Bellingham and Henderson. Sometimes against Denmark, they were surprised by the runs from midfield. They have to be aware of this. I’m sure they must be watching a lot of England clips.”
Key player battles in this game, in your opinion?
“You have to win one-vs-one’s everywhere on the pitch.”
“The attacking three for England and for France have to be decisive.”
“It’s a good matchup all over the place.”
“Kounde, not a natural right-back but in terms of defending, he’s pretty solid. It will be a good battle with Foden, or whoever plays on the left for England.”
“There will be battles within the big battle.”
What’s your combined England-France XI?
“Goalkeepers, I’d take Lloris for his experience but he hasn’t been extremely solid lately.”
“I’d go for Luke Shaw, the French centre-backs Upamecano and Varane and right-back, probably, Trippier.”
“Then in the midfield, Bellingham, Rabiot and Tchouameni.”
“Up front, Kane, Mbappe and Saka.”
For Brazil, Richarlison is playing as a centre forward, is that his best position?
“Richarlison is a modern striker. Which means he can play all across positions up front. Out on the side or like a number 9, centrally.”
“Because he’s fast and he’s working hard, sometimes you have the temptation to play him either side of the main striker.”
“For Brazil, he’s proving that he can be the missing piece as a number 9. I’m not surprised by his level and his transformation. His goal ratio, compared to the chances he’s taken, is excellent.”
Do you think that this World Cup has been Richarlison ́s final breakthrough as a top player?
“He knew that while joining Spurs, Harry Kane was going to be the designated number 9.”
“But for Brazil, what he’s showing now, demonstrates to everybody that he’s ready to take that role if Kane was to leave.”
“He’s improved a lot in front of the goal and now he’s making the most of it.”
“He has a regular understanding with the wingers in Brazil, with Vinicius and Raphinha.
He’s at the right spot at the moment.”
Do you think Spurs ever doubted that he could replace/fill-in for Harry Kane?
“I don ́t think the club has ever been in doubt that Richarlison could be a really good centre forward for them. Most of the teams nowadays are only playing with one striker, but he has proven for many seasons now that he is able to do a really good job as a centre forward.”
“I think they bought him in case Harry Kane would leave the club, but I believe that they really trust him. He has done amazing for both Tottenham and Brazil and he will continue to do that whether he plays out wide or as a centre forward.”
If you, at this moment in time, should choose the best goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and striker at the World Cup, who would you pick?
“I think Morocco have had the best defence so far in this tournament, so I will go with Bono as the best goalkeeper.”
“For the defenders I’m going to pick Van Dijk and Upamecano. They have been really impressive. As the fullbacks I ́m going for Achraf Hakimi and Luke Shaw. “
“The best midfielders so far have probably been Jude Bellingham and Casemiro. The best attacking players have been Kylian Mbappé, Richarlison and Bukayo Saka in my opinion.”
Luka Modric continues to thrive at the highest level of football aged 37. Where does he rank in terms of the best midfielders ever?
“It says it all when you have won the Ballon D’or, then you are among the best players ever.”
“I would compare his level to Andres Iniesta. He is an unbelievable player with an amazing brain. He is so clever and because of his brain he has been able to play on that high level forso many years. I really enjoy watching him on a football pitch.”
Gabriel Jesus’ injury is of course a big blow. Do you think that will cause Arsenal to slump down in the table?
“He is a key player for Arsenal and is contributing with both goals and assists. It is a massive blow for Arsenal that he is injured now because he is so important to their style of playing. He creates space for the other players.”
“But when a player is missing it opens up the opportunity for another player to step up. But of course, they will miss him a lot and it’s really not good for Arsenal.”
Eddie Nketiah – do you think he’s good enough to cover for Gabriel Jesus? What does he bring to Arsenal, in your view?
“I don’t think it makes any sense to go out and buy a new player. I think they should stick with their current squad and I think that Eddie Nketiah has the potential to reach a really high Level.”
“He is not completely there yet, but this is his chance to grab the opportunity. He needs to grab this chance and score goals.”
“Nketiah is a really good finisher and he is more like a fox in the box than Gabriel Jesus. So, Arsenal also has to adapt their way of playing.”
Man Utd players have been performing at a very high level in this tournament. How do you see Erik ten Hag making the best out of that form when they return to club foot-Ball?
“I think that Erik ten Hag is hoping that the players will return to Man United with a positive experience and maybe a medal around their neck.”
“But the players need to change their focus real quick. They have to focus on the club when they return but I also think that the players’ mentality is strong enough to do that.”
How hard will it be for the players to come back fit? Do they need a break?
“I think that the players need a break mentally. Of course, they have been performing well, but in February or March they might struggle a bit if they haven’t got the rest that they need.”
“Ideally you would want a break to recharge the battery and take some time off with their family to switch off before coming back.”
Has Casemiro now shown the world that he is more than a tough tackling midfielder which has always been the perception of him?
“When he was in Real Madrid he had so many good players around him and he was kind of sacrificing himself to be the defensive anchor.”
“I think he will be allowed to be more attacking in his way of playing in Man United. He has the ability to do it, and I would love to see him more around the opponents box. He has done it multiple times for his country and I believe that he can do it for Man United as well.”
With the Round of 16 done, who’s been the best Man Utd player at this tournament, in your opinion?
“I think that Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes have been incredible for their country. Luke Shaw obviously as well, but I don’t want to put one in front of another player. They have all been doing really great. Harry Maguire too has been playing really good for England”
Which areas of the team have Manchester United improved on since the hiring of Erik ten Hag? Is that because of the additions of Casemiro and Eriksen?
“Their midfield and their attacking movements have improved a lot. There is still room for improvement but I have been really impressed.”
And for sure Christian Eriksen and Casemiro have helped a lot. They are role models for all the other players and have been very good signings for the club.”
