Uruguay ‘can stop’ Mbappe

– Uruguay will seek to summon up all their famous defensive spirit in Friday’s quarterfinal against France to shackle the lighting-fast teenager Kylian Mbappe (above).

The South Americans have conceded just one goal – the joint lowest in the tournament with Brazil – in four straight wins on their way to the showdown.

But 19-year-old Mbappe has announced himself as one of the world’s hottest talents with three goals, including two against Argentina and an amazing 70-metre sprint that ended with him winning a penalty.

“About Mbappe, everybody knows he’s a really good player, he’s like (Thierry) Henry a few years ago,” Uruguay’s own hotshot Luis Suarez said yesterday.

“But I think we have a really good defence to control him – but not just one player, the whole France team.”

As well as Mbappe, Uruguay will have another brilliant French forward, Antoine Griezmann, to contend with.

That duel comes with a twist, given Griezmann’s affection for Uruguay and friendship with their two central defenders Jose Gimenez and Diego Godin at Atletico Madrid.

Uruguay’s own impressive front line may be without Edinson Cavani, who suffered a calf injury after scoring two fabulous goals against Portugal in the last-16.

“About Cavani, we don’t know, we’re just waiting for a few days,” Suarez said. “His significance, both for my play and for the team, is key because of the quality player he is.” – Reuters

Nizhny Novgorod