World Cup: Walker talks Mbappe & latest news from Qatar

1. England's Kyle Walker talks about facing France and Kylian Mbappe
2. Reaction as Morocco and Portugal reach quarter-finals
3. Wednesday is a rest day at the Fifa World Cup
4. Get involved #bbcfootball

Goodbye

That's all from us today, as always thank you for you company.

Tomorrow is the final rest day before the quarter-finals get underway on Friday, starting with Croatia v Brazil (15:00 GMT) and followed by Netherlands v Argentina (19:00).

Both games are live on BBC One, with commentary on BBC Sounds and live text commentary here on the BBC Sport website and app.

But until then, we'll leave you with some of the top stories from today.

• Kyle Walker 'will not roll out red carpet' for Kylian Mbappe
• How have travelling fans found Qatar?
• Eden Hazard announces international retirement
• Why Morocco's win over Spain in Qatar echoed across the Arab world
• Pick your combined England XI to face France

See you for more World Cup chat tomorrow!

Tonight's football

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Lineth Beerensteyn and Vivianne Miedema

There may be a break in the World Cup fixtures but there are football matches on this evening, namely the Women's Champions League.

Arsenal host Juventus, who are the only team to take points off of the Gunners so far in the competition. They were locked in a 1-1 draw in November, meaning Arsenal remain top of group C with Juventus two points behind.

You can have a read of the Arsenal v Juventus preview here.

Also tonight Lyon take on Zurich, Rosengard play Benfica and Bayern Munich take on Barcelona.

There's more football tomorrow with Chelsea taking on Real Madrid away from home. Chelsea are the only team in the Women's Champions League not to concede a goal yet and they will be trying to maintain the record.

If European football doesn't take your fancy there is also the Continental Cup on this evening. Today the pick to watch would be Manchester United v Everton but Liverpool v Manchester City and Sheffield United v Aston Villa is also billed.

There is one Conti Cup match tomorrow with Sunderland v Leicester City.

Test your last-16 knowledge

BBC Sport

The last-16 matches at the World Cup had it all - shocks, drama and plenty of goals.

But did you know Croatia's Dominik Livakovic became the third goalkeeper to save three penalties in a World Cup penalty shootout?

Or that Jordan Henderson is now England's second oldest goalscorer at a World Cup?

So much more than that happened, though, so test your knowledge here

Walker on facing Mbappe

England full-back Kyle Walker says he "will not roll out the red carpet" for Kylian Mbappe if selected to face the France forward in Saturday's World Cup quarter-final.

World Cup 2022: Kyle Walker on facing France's Kylian Mbappe

Could 'prime' Shearer play with Kane?

Alan Shearer sits down with Liam Loftus to answer questions from the BBC Sport audience about England, Jude Bellingham and whether "prime" Alan could get into this England team.

Do you think he could? You know the score by now - let us know using the thumbs below

World Cup 2022: Alan Shearer answers your England questions in Pundit Q&A

Mbappe 'was just resting' on Tuesday

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France and Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate, says Kylian Mbappe was missing from training on Tuesday because he "was resting" and "there's nothing to worry about."

On the current tournament leading goal scorer, Konate said: "We haven't really spoken about it at all. He was just resting yesterday.

"It was a little recovery session, the day before we had a day off. I think he decided to stay indoors with the coach, there is nothing to worry about."

On Mbappe being up against Manchester City and England right-back Kyle Walker, he added: "Walker and Mbappe are two very great players.

"Walker is one of the best right-backs in the world, I can't wait to see this battle."

'He'll be absolutely terrifying'

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Jude Bellingham and Jack Grealish

England's Jack Grealish has added to the praise being thrown at Jude Bellingham, agreeing with Phil Foden's assessment that the Borussia Dortmund player has the potential to be the best midfielder in the world.

"He's got everything, the only thing he hasn't got is he isn't a Villa fan, he's a Bluenose," Grealish told ITV. "Can't have everything can you?

"He's a top lad, so mature in the way he plays. He can defend, he can tackle, he can run with the ball, he can score goals. He can do everything, honestly."

And the Manchester City player added: "He is only nineteen. He has his whole career ahead of him. If he keeps going the way he is, he'll be absolutely terrifying."

Lights, camera, action!

Jack Grealish is no stranger to going viral on social media, so who better to take you through some of the most popular moments he and England have enjoyed on and off the pitch so far in Qatar?

An Anglo-French battle

Shamoon Hafez

BBC Sport

England and France - the reigning champions - meet at a major tournament for the first time in 10 years, and for the first time ever in the knockout stages.

The teams drew 1-1 in the group stage of Euro 2012, but you have to go back to 1982 for their last meeting at a World Cup.

Bryan Robson scored twice in a 3-1 England victory over a side captained by France great Michel Platini.

The Three Lions didn't go on to become world champions in Spain that year, but the only time they did - back in 1966 - one of the teams they beat on their way to glory was, you've guessed it, France. Not a bad omen.

However, now they have the daunting prospect of facing in-form striking sensation Mbappe, who leads the Golden Boot race with five goals and plays alongside his country's all-time top goalscorer in Olivier Giroud.

"Saturday will be really difficult," said England captain Kane. "France are a great team, reigning world champions, so we know it is going to be a really tough evening.

"I think if you are going to win the World Cup, you have to play the best sides in the world, and France are certainly up there."

Pick your combined England-France XI

Bergkamp's brilliance

Shamoon Hafez

BBC Sport at Education City Stadium

Dennis Bergkamp scores wonder goal for Netherlands against Argentina at 1998 World Cup

Louis van Gaal's Netherland's side and Argentina are familiar foes in this tournament, set to meet for the sixth time for a place in the semi-finals.

It's a repeat of the 1978 final, which the South American side won, and their most recent meeting was in the last four eight years ago, with Argentina victorious on penalties.

But one of the most famous moments - not only in this fixture but in World Cup history - came in 1998 when Dennis Bergkamp scored a sensational last-minute goal to take the Netherlands through to the semi-finals.

"Dennis Bergkamp, Dennis Bergkamp, Dennis Bergkamp," screamed the Dutch commentator as the Arsenal man expertly controlled Frank de Boer's raking pass, before turning inside Roberto Ayala and flicking a finish into the net.

Cody Gakpo to do something similar this time...?

Daley Blind opens up on playing with heart condition

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Netherlands defender Daley Blind will be making his 99th international appearance when he steps out against Argentina on Friday.

It will be quite the achievement, but even more so when you consider he's made many of those appearances with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) in his chest.

An ICD can detect an irregular heart beat and deliver a life-saving shock in the event of sudden cardiac arrest. It is the same device that allowed Christian Eriksen to resume his career after his cardiac arrest playing for Denmark at last year’s Euros.

Blind, 32, had a suspected heart attack in a Champions League game for Ajax against Valencia in 2019, feeling dizzy and quickly being taken off for treatment.

He was diagnosed with a heart rhythm disorder and doctors initially suggested his professional career was over.

“You saw everyone looking at me with fear,” Blind recalls in an emotive documentary called Never Again Standing Still, which looks at the condition.

“Something that has always stayed with me was my father's reaction. He remained so stoic. He did not give up, he kept asking the doctor if there were any other options. His sober vision gave me hope.”

Blind collapsed in a match eight months later, shouting as the ICD went off. He was eventually able to walk off the pitch and was given the all-clear soon after,

“It is something you carry with you every day,” Blind says.

“You get up with it, you go to work, you take your medicine. You think about it during a sprint, you actually always carry it with you. It was only after a year that I went into a game without thinking about it."

We need a good plan for Messi - Van Dijk

There will be key battles all over the pitch when the Netherlands play Argentina on Friday, but perhaps none so more important than how the Dutch contain Lionel Messi.

Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk remains wary about the threat Messi poses, even though he came out on the winning side the last time they met in club football.

Van Dijk called Messi the best player he had played against after Liverpool came back from a three-goal first-leg deficit to beat Barcelona on their way to winning the 2019 Champions League and has repeated the tribute in Qatar.

"The difficult thing about him is when we are attacking, he is chilling somewhere in a corner or something," says Van Dijk.

"You have to be so very sharp in terms of defensive organisation. They always looked for him to try to make it difficult for us on the counter.

"No one can do it on his own, we will have to come up with a good plan."

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The Dutch feeling the good vibes

World Cups are about having fun and showing off some celebratory moves, right? No matter what Roy Keane thinks...

The Dutch squad had some fun as they shimmied their way back into the hotel after beating the United States in the last 16 - including veteran coach Louis van Gaal.

"The vibes are good, we have a lot of fun times with the team, the communication with the trainers and the staff is very good. So yeah, the feeling is great," says defender Jurrien Timber.

'Van Gaal doesn't want sympathy'

After a long coaching career packed with innovation, trophies and memorable funny moments, it could be all over for Louis van Gaal on Friday.

The 71-year-old Netherlands coach, who has already come out of retirement once, is set to step down after the World Cup.

More poignantly, he is aiming to lead the Dutch to their first World Cup title shortly after recovering from prostate cancer - which he did not tell the players he was having treatment for during qualifying.

"He doesn't want any sympathy or anything like that," says defender Nathan Ake.

"He just wants for us to do well and you can see his enjoyment in the games if we do well, I think that is his enjoyment."

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Can Morocco become the first semi-finalists from Africa?

Eight teams remain in the 2022 World Cup, we are now progressing to the real business end, and the quarter-finals are stacked with talent.

Six of the teams left in are former champions or finalists - and they have won the competition 10 times between them.

There's a surprise package too, with Morocco now aiming to become the first semi-finalists from Africa having reached their first quarter-final.

Achraf Hakimi's winning penalty in the shootout victory over Spain was majestic, dinked down the middle of the goal to spark wild celebrations at Education City.

Their progression to the quarter-finals of the World Cup was given a royal seal of approval too, as boss Walid Regragui received a phonecall from Morocco's King Mohammed VI after the game.

However, another stern test against European opposition awaits - and Portugal are aiming to make history of their own by reaching a first final.

Fireworks and flares after historic Morocco win

'I'm still processing result'

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When Achraf Hakimi nonchalantly delivered a dink down the middle of the goal to win a penalty shootout against Spain on Tuesday, he sparked scenes of wild jubilation among Moroccan fans in the stadium and back home.

"I'm still processing this," Moroccan journalist Amine El Amri, who was in the stadium, told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"It's just so, so amazing to be part of the history of our country."

El Amri explained how Hakimi grew up in a poor neighbourhood in Madrid, Spain. His mother cleaned houses and his father was a street vendor.

"When he is playing he does it for everybody in his family and by extension his biggest family, which is all of Morocco," he says.

But Morocco now face another huge test against Portugal, who thrashed Switzerland 6-1 on Tuesday.

"The motto has been we celebrate today and tomorrow morning we start working again with humility," El Amri says.

"That has been the pattern throughout the World Cup and it’s been working fine so far."

In case you need a reminder

Because everyone loves a penalty shootout.

(as long as you're not involved in it).

'A victory that echoed all across the Arab world'

Shaimaa Khalil

BBC News in Doha

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Morocco fans celebrate victory in Gaza City

Before the euphoria, there was tension. A lot of tension.

In the Education City Stadium, I sat in the middle of a sea of red and green - so many different iterations of the Moroccan colours.

The sound was more roars than chants. Morocco's team is known as "Lions of the Atlas". And the dominating chant was the now famous Moroccan "seer" which translates as "go" or "go ahead".

You could tell when Spain were on the offensive from all the whistling and jeering. People were literally on the edge of their seats and as the game went to a penalty shootout I stood among Moroccan spectators outside the stadium, huddled over a phone and holding their breath.

Then came Achraf Hakimi, the Moroccan star who was born in Spain. His was the decisive kick that delivered his team's ticket to the quarter-finals - the first Arab nation to do so. "We're coming Portugal," a group of fans chanted near a huge World Cup replica trophy outside the stadium.

This victory happened in Doha and echoed all across the Arab world.

Read Shaimaa's piece over here

Party time in London

Just a quick recap on the unbridled joy experienced by one of the World Cup's quarter-finalists last night.

Morocco fans celebrate historic World Cup win in London

Flares were lit on Edgware Road and large crowds gathered at Piccadilly Circus after Morocco defeated Spain on penalties, sparking large celebrations.

Videos show delighted supporters spilling out on to the streets of the capital draped in Morocco flags. Some beeped car horns while others were seen dancing while holding red flares - the colour of the country's flag.

BBC to broadcast Friday's quarter-finals

FIFA

Friday's two World Cup quarter-finals will be shown live on BBC television.

Croatia v Brazil (15:00 GMT) and Netherlands v Argentina (19:00) will be broadcast on BBC One and the BBC iPlayer.

ITV will show both of Saturday's matches - England v France (19:00) after Morocco v Portugal (15:00).

Radio commentary of all four matches will be available in the UK on BBC Sounds, with live text coverage on the BBC Sport website and app.

You can find everything you need to know before the quarter-finals here