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Tom Coleman

World Cup headlines as L'Equipe pick out Southgate's liability and Piers Morgan boasts 'who the hell wants to face England right now?'

Here's your round-up of all the latest World Cup headlines for Monday, December 5.

Foden sends warning to France

Phil Foden has warned world champions France that England will be heading into next weekend's titanic quarter-final clash full of confidence following their 3-0 win over Senegal.

The Three Lions produced a dominant display to see of the African champions on Sunday, but will likely face a sterner test against Didier Deschamps' men.

But with England yet to taste defeat in this tournament, the Manchester City star believes there will be no shortage of confidence inside the camp.

READ MORE: England star Raheem Sterling's family home 'broken into by armed intruders' as he flies home from World Cup

"We are going to celebrate tonight but it is knockout football now so we will have to recover and then think about the next opponent," he told ITV.

"Senegal went man to man and were very physical but it was about biding our time and keeping the ball moving more.

"I don’t want to big [Jude Bellingham] up too much because he is still young but he’s one of the most gifted players I have ever seen.

"He has no weakness in his game. I think he will be the best midfielder in the world.

"[France] look like the strongest in the competition up to now. [But] we back ourselves every day and we are confident."

Meanwhile, French daily L'Equipe have picked out defender Harry Maguire as a potential liability.

"The winner will not be the team that has the most possession, but the one that uses it with the most suddenness," they wrote.

"Harry Maguire's slowness could prove detrimental to the England rear guard, which Gareth Southgate could strengthen by abandoning his 4-3-3 for a 3-4-3, as he does every time he faces the best selections."

Mbappe: I came here to win World Cup

France superstar Kylian Mbappe has broken his media silence to insist his only focus is to help his team win a second consecutive World Cup.

The PSG star curled two stunning strikes to send the defending champions into the last eight, where they will face England, and looks a firm favourite to take the Golden Boot award.

However, he insists he's not interested in personal accolades, and is only thinking about lifting the famous trophy for a second time on December 18.

“The only objective for me is to win the World Cup,” Mbappe said.

“Now to win the next game, the quarter-final, is the most important thing and that is what I dream. The only thing I dream of is this.

“I came here to win this World Cup. I didn’t come here to win the Golden Ball or Golden Boot. If I win it, of course I’m going to be happy but that’s not why I am here. I am here to win and to help the French national team.”

Mbappe added: “I know people have been asking why I haven’t been appearing in front of the media.

“It wasn’t anything personal, I can assure you of that. I have nothing against journalists but I just needed to focus on the tournament and on my football.

“When I want to concentrate on something, that is the way I function and that is why I did not want to come and speak to you before now.

“So far things have been going well but we are a long way from the ultimate objective, which is to win the World Cup. Now we have to focus on the quarter-final and that is the most important thing now.”

Piers Morgan says Mbappe will present a huge challenge to England in the quarters but believes no-one will want to face England right now.

He tweeted: "France, and especially @KMbappe, will be a massive 1/4 Final challenge on Saturday night. But who the hell wants to play England in this World Cup right now? We have a great squad, top manager, and myriad players scoring goals for fun. The French should be more worried than us."

Neymar closing in on return for Brazil

Brazil coach Tite says star player Neymar is closing in on a return to full fitness ahead of his side's last-16 clash with South Korea.

The 30-year-old was forced out of his side's opening game, the 1-0 win over Serbia, with a suspected ankle injury.

Brazil won their group in the absence of their star player, and Tite is hoping to have him available for the knockout stages.

"Regarding Neymar, he’s going to practice this afternoon and if he is OK, he will play tomorrow," Tite told reporters. "I don’t share any information that is not true. My answer is he will practice this afternoon, if everything goes well, he will play.”

Neymar’s return comes as a welcome boost to Brazil, with striker Gabriel Jesus ruled out for the remainder of the tournament with a knee injury suffered during a shock defeat to Cameroon. Alex Telles too has been ruled out with a similar issue.

Tite added: “Arsenal have a great medical department, we have a great medical department, we feel sorry for Gabriel Jesus, Neymar and Thiago (Silva) spoke to him, they spoke to Alex (Telles). We can’t take the pain away, just try to make them feel better, to strengthen them.”

READ MORE:

Piers Morgan and Gary Lineker in fresh Twitter row over qualities of Lionel Messi as he fires Argentina to World Cup quarter-finals

Joe Rodon claims he's in the dark on his Tottenham future after Wales World Cup exit as French club face £20m decision

Andre Ayew's daughter rushed to hospital amid Ghana v Uruguay drama as striker reveals other personal tragedy

Wales legend Neville Southall schools Nigel Farage on his own TV show and slams Tories

Mark Drakeford and Vaughan Gething's World Cup trip to Qatar cost just over £13,000 in public money

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