Kyle Walker has been told he must have the "game of his life" when England face France in the World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.
A comfortable win over Senegal sent the Three Lions into the last eight, where they will face the reigning world champions. That also means they will come up against Kylian Mbappe, who has been the player of the tournament so far.
It is expected that Walker will be the man who is given the task of keeping the Paris Saint-Germain superstar quiet. The Manchester City right-back has started England's last two games and is likely to keep his place in the team against France, injuries notwithstanding.
Keeping Mbappe quiet is a thankless task, with the 23-year-old having scored five goals and notched two assists already in this tournament. And England legend Stuart Pearce believes Walker needs to put in the best performance of his career if the Three Lions are to progress.
“ Kyle Walker ’s going to have to have the game of his life, there’s no doubting that. We’re going to have to stop the supply line to him," Pearce told talkSPORT.
“They’ve got a front four and real talent in that front four with Mbappe being the pick of the lot with his pace, his energy and his goal threat. You’ve got to stop the ball coming into him and then double up on him when he’s got the ball.
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"To do that, you’ve got to press aggressively. I expect us to play with a four at the back, I wouldn’t be playing three centre-halves. We’ve come this far with a four, the French will play with a four and so I don’t see the need to change, I really don’t."
Pearce also urged Southgate to avoid the temptation to change to a three-man defence, with England having enjoyed such success at this tournament with a back four. The former Nottingham Forest star believes Southgate should keep the team the same as the one that started the win over Senegal.
“I understand the thought process. We’ve gone with a three at times because the two have looked shaky, but I’m not sure how shaky they’ve looked in this tournament," Pearce added.
“I think that John Stones and Harry Maguire have been consistent performers in all of the games. The other one for me would be one of those midfielders who might have to sit in so that it’s a box of four.
“From there, if we’ve got threat from the left-hand side is to slide Rice over to double-up on the left side. It’s just a case of whether he plays with a two, Declan [Rice] and another, rather than just Declan on his own with an advanced Bellingham or an advanced Henderson, whoever it may be.
“Henderson can play that role, it’s no problem for him. He’s probably the best out of him and Bellingham if you’re keeping the same three to play in the engine room."
