RIO FERDINAND joked a case of “child cruelty” might be England’s best hope of stopping wonderkid Lamine Yamal.
Yamal, only just turned 17, has been one of the star’s of Euro 2024 with top performances in all of Spain’s matches.
But he became an overnight sensation with his stunner against France to help book his nation’s place in the final.
Much has been made on how to stop the in-form right winger – and Ferdinand joked good old fashioned rough-housing needs to be in play.
He said: “You have make sure you get tight to him.
“If you let him face the game, in these areas what you have to do is you need two of you sometimes.
“But send him down his weaker side don’t let him come back on that dangerous left foot…
“Make him face his own goal, get right up tight against him. Be aggressive, he’s a young kid physically not there yet so make him face the other way, don’t give him space to run at you.
“Get right up against him, be aggressive, make him work and think about the other side. Or, smash him! Kick him out the game! Simple as that.”
Micah Richards laughed: “That’s a bit over the top, isn’t it?”
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And Gary Lineker joked: “Child cruelty!”
Ferdinand was quick to add: “What a player.
“We’re talking about somebody who’s just turned 17-years-old and he’s one of their main key players who’s a threat to England’s chances of lifting this trophy.”
