FRENCH sports paper L’Equipe have stoked the rivalry with England ahead of what’s set to be a fiery quarter-final between the two nations.
The Three Lions booked their place in Saturday’s last eight match up with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Senegal last night.
Just hours earlier France had already advanced, beating Poland 3-1 courtesy of a goal by Olivier Giroud and two from superstar Kylian Mbappe.
After Mbappe’s latest sensational performance, L’Equipe opted for a cheeky headline in a nod to France’s next opponents.
They led with the line “God Save Our King” along with a picture of a fist pumping Mbappe hugging strike partner Giroud.
The front page was shared by England-based French journalist Julien Laurens – causing quite a stir among some of his Brit followers.
One wrote: “Provocation!”
Another posted a gif of Harry Maguire, writing: “Prince Harry will sort him out.”
Gary Lineker also saw the front page, replying with two clapping emojis.
After France’s victory over Poland, defender Jules Kounde claimed he didn’t care which of England or Senegal his side would be facing in the quarter-finals.
He said: “Going back to the hotel to watch the game between England and Senegal, because we like football, but we don’t have a preference.”
Mbappe, meanwhile, claimed that winning a second World Cup at the age of just 23 is an “obsession”.
He said: “Of course this World Cup is an obsession, it’s the competition of my dreams, I’m lucky to play it, I built my season on this competition physically and mentally.
“I wanted to arrive ready and for ‘the right now.’
“It’s going well, but we’re still far from the goal we’ve set for ourselves and which I’ve set for myself, which is to win.”
Kylian Mbappe was in sensational form once again
