Kyle Walker lived up to claim he ‘wouldn’t roll out red carpet for Mbappe’ blanking him in tunnel

Kyle Walker lived up to his claims that he ‘would not roll out the red carpet’ for Kylian Mbappe, blanking the forward’s advances for a handshake in the tunnel before England’s defeat to France on Saturday. 

It was heartbreak for the the Three Lions who were knocked out of the 2022 World Cup on Saturday night following a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to the world champions. 

Ahead of the match, all eyes turned to England’s right-back, Walker, who would be tasked with the responsibility of keeping explosive France’s winger at bay but claimed ‘he knew how he could stop Mbappe.’

Walker (right) acknowledged the handshake offering but hilariously blanked the Frenchman

‘I understand what I need to do and that is to stop him,’ the 32-year-old said in a press conference ahead of the match. ‘It’s easier said than done but I don’t underestimate myself.’ 

‘You have to give him respect but not too much. Yes, it will be a tough game but a team cannot just be about one person,’ he added. 

Walker interestingly also added: ”I’m not going to roll out a red carpet for him and tell him to score. It’s a World Cup, it’s do or die.’

Ahead of the game Walker (L) had said he ‘would not roll out the red carpet for Mbappe (R)’

The Manchester City defender held his own against the explosive winger despite the result

And the right-back certainly lived up to his claims, hilariously choosing to blank Mbappe before the game on Saturday night. 

As both England and France lined up to walk out for their crunch quarterfinal at the Al Bayt stadium, the winger seemed to approach Walker in the tunnel and offered him a handshake. 

The Englishman hilariously acknowledged his outstretched hand turning to look at his opposite man, before blanking the offering turning his head forward again to focuson the game.  

Mbappe gave an awkward smile noting the rejection but it was ultimately he who would have the last laugh. 

While Walker put on an accomplished performance keeping him at bay for most of the match, it was Antoine Griezmann, Aurelien Tchouameni and Olivier Giroud who were the orchestrators of England’s defeat. 

Griezmann was the star of the show, teeing up Tchouameni for a controversial long range goal that perhaps should not have stood thanks to a foul on Bukayo Saka in the build-up. 

Bukayo Saka (pictured) was fouled by Dayot Upamecano (pictured) before France’s first goal

Harry Kane levelled for Gareth Southgate’s side soon after, beating his Tottenham Hotspur teammate Hugo Lloris, sliding a penalty into the left corner of the goal.

France came back once again with Giroud connecting with a superb cross from Griezmann, heading home for france’s second. 

Mbappe (pictured) was seen celebrating Kane’s penalty miss which kept France in a 2-1 lead

The England captain had another opportunity to level the scores at 2-2, after Theo Hernandez brought down Mason Mount inside the French penalty area, but the Spurs forward failed to capitalise on the opportunity, putting his spot-kick over the bar. 

And it was Mbappe, who quite literally had the last laugh, ruthlessly laughing at Kane’s misfortune. 

France will now advance to play Morocco in the semi-finals of the competition as they hope to become one of only a handful of teams to win back-to-back World Cups.