“KYLIAN MBAPPÉ WAS SPOTTED SWAPPING SHIRTS AT HALF-TIME… AND EVEN THE COMMENTATORS COULDN’T BELIEVE IT.” 😳👕⚽ Kylian Mbappé left fans and pundits stunned after appearing to exchange shirts with England’s Declan Rice at half-time—despite France trailing 4-0 in the World Cup third-place playoff. Cameras also caught the French superstar laughing with England manager Thomas Tuchel as the teams headed back onto the pitch, prompting former England star Owen Hargreaves to call the scenes “very, very weird.” While Mbappé returned to score twice after the break, the unexpected tunnel moment quickly became one of the most talked-about images of the match.

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Kylian Mbappe called out for ‘very, very weird’ act at half-time of England vs France World Cup clash while 4-0 down

WORLD CUP pundit Owen Hargreaves called Kylian Mbappe out for swapping shirts with Declan Rice – at HALF-TIME.

The France forward was all smiles, chinwagging away with England boss Thomas Tuchel while sauntering out for the second half of Saturday’s World Cup third place play-off.

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Kylian Mbappe was holding an England shirt at half-time while Declan Rice was holding a France shirtCredit: Refer to source
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Mbappe enjoyed a chinwag with Thomas Tuchel while walking out for the second halfCredit: Refer to source

And that is despite the fact Les Bleus were on the wrong end of a 4-0 thumping by the break.

But what really threw Hargreaves, as well as fans, was the sight of a shirtless Mbappe walking through the tunnel with an England jersey in his hand.

Declan Rice was spotted behind him with a France jersey in his, suggesting the pair had swapped.

Mbappe and Tuchel spent two years together at Paris Saint-Germain, when the lightning-quick French forward was still a youngster.

But it was still surreal to see the pair laughing and joking midway through a World Cup showdown between two of the best teams at the tournament.

Even if fans do insist they have no interest in the bronze medal clash.

When asked for his take on the tunnel footage, ex-England international Owen Hargreaves told FOX Sports: “Weird. Very, very weird.”

Weird or not, a half-time break clearly rejuvenated Mbappe as he came out firing in the second period.

Within 22 minutes of the restart he had plundered his ninth and tenth goals of the tournament, taking him two clear of Lionel Messi, who has the chance to match him in Sunday’s final.

France dragged it back to 4-3 but ended up losing 6-4, as England ended Didier Deschamps’ managerial reign on a bonkers note.

SOURCE: THESUN