How do you stop Messi, Mbappe, Haaland and Kane?

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. How do you stop Messi, Mbappe, Haaland and Kane? Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Four of the most in-form strikers in world football will look to add to their red-hot starts to the World Cup this weekByDale Johnson Football issues correspondentPublished47 minutes agoA World Cup is always that little bit more special when the game's star names come to the party. And last week four of football's elite strikers announced their arrival in devastating fashion.

It was as though each was spurred on by the performance of the others. Paris St-Germain's Kylian Mbappe got the ball rolling by scoring twice in France's 3-1 win over Senegal. That was emulated a couple of hours later by Manchester City's Erling Haaland in Norway's 4-1 win over Iraq.

The Details

Then step forward Lionel Messi, the Inter Miami attacker proving his enduring class with a hat-trick as Argentina beat Algeria 3-0. Bayern Munich's Harry Kane then netted twice as England beat Croatia 4-2. Could this be the tournament of the star striker?

And if you're up against them, how do you plan to stop them? Four very different players, with contrasting styles but who are equally effective. Former Everton and Wales defender Ashley Williams told Sport how you might defend against them.

On Messi: Push him into comfortable areasImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Lionel Messi has scored 120 goals in 200 games for ArgentinaNext game: Austria, Monday 18:00 BSTMessi turns 39 on Wednesday, but you would not know it from his performance against Algeria. The forward's treble took him level with Germany's Miroslav Klose as the World Cup's all-time top scorer on 16 goals - though Mbappe is just two behind. With Messi on this kind of form, and on 120 international goals, how do you halt him in his tracks?

What Experts Say

"It's more of a team effort," Williams said. "I always felt being a defender that you are hoping for a bit of luck. "You've got to cover all your bases, which might be getting tight as a defender, or dropping off and letting your midfield get tight.

"Try as best you can to push him into comfortable areas with your body shape, your distancing and your angles of approach. "He's one of those players where if you have to pick a poison, say you'd rather someone else take the shot than him. "Williams added that forcing an attacker onto their weaker foot would have limited success with Messi.

"He seems to take control in possession, no matter where you try to push him out to," Williams said. "He's got the low centre of gravity, great balance, his touch is exceptional, so he can manipulate the ball and get you into a place you don't want. "On Mbappe: You stay locked in with himImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick in the 2022 World Cup final, which France lost on penalties to ArgentinaNext game: Iraq, Monday 22:00 BSTWilliams has first-hand experience of Mbappe from his own playing days with Wales.

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