ENGLAND were tipped to beat France by Kylian Mbappe — a teenage student from Leicester.
Kylian, 16, is a second cousin of the PSG superstar, 23, who aims to break Three Lions hearts in Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final.
Left-footed Kylian plays too and said: “I’m the real Kylian Mbappe and am backing England.
“If Gareth Southgate called me up I’d stop Mbappe. I’m pretty fast like him. It must run in the family. And I’m a decent defender.”
English Kylian was born in Paris to Steeve, 46 — cousin of Mbappe’s dad Wilfried.
The sports studies student added: “My dad and family are all supporting France but I’m behind England. All my friends are Three Lions-mad.
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“And if I’m honest, I’m more English than French now.
“I speak better English, I’ve lived here for longer, I love baked beans and Greggs.
“I’d pick a sausage roll over a croque monsieur any day.”
While his cousin earns £650,000 a week and owns a £3million flat in Paris, Kylian makes £6.50-an-hour washing dishes at The Frame pub and lives in a £350,000 three-bed semi in Braunstone Town.
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His namesake drives a £500,000 Ferrari 488 Pista while the Brit has a £5-a-day bus ticket.
Teen Kylian, whose mum lives in France, added: “I’ve never had any trouble from my name. All my friends knew me before Mbappe was famous, so I’m still Kylian to them.”
He plays left-back for club side Friar Lane & Epworth FC and said: “Other teams must take a second look when they see me on the team sheet.
“Maybe they think it’s a joke.”
He added: “I only realised my name was so crazy when I was watching TV and saw this young Monaco player called Kylian Mbappe. I told my dad and he said, ‘Yes, that’s the son of my cousin’. I found it funny but it’s a real honour. I would love to meet him one day.”
Dad-of-two Steeve grew up with cousin Wilfried in Cameroon.
He added: “When my son was born I didn’t even think about the name. I picked Kylian because I liked the meaning (little warrior).
“It was only when I went with Wilfried to watch his son, we thought the coincidence was hilarious. I would not swap my boys for the world and I have the real No1 Kylian Mbappe.”
Yesterday The Sun told how Mbappe himself is an England fan — after draping his waxwork in Three Lions memorabilia.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
