EXCLUSIVE
Kyle Walker has faced Kylian Mbappe but says he’s never seen speed like Nico Williams and tells fans even Rodri has weaknesses
Kyle Walker may be one of the quickest footballers to have ever graced the game - but was left impressed by rapid Nico Williams.
The England right-back has battled against plenty of speed demons - notably Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, Neymar and Gabriel Martinelli.
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But Walker has stated Williams possesses speed unlike no other as he prepares to face the Athletic Bilbao forward for the first time when England take on Spain in Sunday's Euro 2024 final - live on talkSPORT.
Speaking to talkSPORT ahead of the game, Walker was asked whether he thinks he's quicker than the Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool target.
"Good question. I saw him run the other day and I've never seen something so quick.
"I'll have to give him the respect as I do with every player, but hopefully he gives me the respect as well that we've both earned playing the game of football.
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"It'll be a good test, obviously the team has not been mentioned, but if I am selected, I'll give it my all - and especially in a European Championship final."
Williams isn't the only pace monster in Spain's ranks, with teenage star Lamine Yamal lighting up Germany - as shown by his epic strike against France in the semi-finals.
It saw the 16-year-old, who turns 17 on Saturday, crowned as the youngest goalscorer in European Championship history.
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And while Walker has praised Yamal's heroics so far at Euro 2024, he believes his teammates have more than enough quality to freeze him out of the final.
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He remarked: "For a 16-year-old to produce what he's producing is outstanding, I wouldn't mind him to have an off game for the next game.
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"But I feel that the defenders that we've got, they can cope with him. Definitely.
"That's their challenge that they have to bring to themselves playing against one of the best players of the tournament.
"That's the game, as players, definitely as a full-back, you want to play against the best."
Meanwhile, Walker has issued a rallying cry to the England squad that his Manchester City teammate Rodri - one of the world's best midfielders - has weakness that can be exploited.
Commenting on how to stop a man who has remained unbeaten for more than a year in his nation's colours, he stated: "He's a great player, and he controls the game and dictates the game at his own pace as I know at club level.
"But we've seen video clips [of him], I know him first and foremost, there's weaknesses in everyone's game. No one's the perfect article.
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"But we need to try and exploit those weaknesses as best as we can and get the players that we have in dangerous areas to go and make sure that they can go score the goals.
"And as a defence, we need to make sure we keep clean sheets."
talkSPORT is bringing you live commentary of EVERY game at Euro 2024. Tune in via the website or the app, and follow our live Euro 2024 blog for all the latest news, views and reaction to the big moments.
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