Manchester City defenders John Stones and Vincent Kompany will be reunited on the game s biggest stage when England face Belgium in the battle to top Group G, but the pair will not discuss football according to the Three Lions centre-back.
When Kompany was fit the pair forged an important pairing in City s formidable title-winning defence in 2017-18 and Stones said he hoped the injuries that have dogged his team-mate over the last three years would not prevent him from being involved on Thursday.
After missing the Red Devils opening 3-0 victory over Panama, Kompany was an unused substitute as they beat Tunisia 5-2 in their second group game.
Looking ahead to the game in Kaliningrad, Stones told FIFA TV: I love Vinny, he s a top guy as well as a top player, and it will be great to see him and hopefully he s fit and ready.
It will be nice to have a chat, but probably [about] non-football-related things!
It will be a strange rivalry I suppose, because we are used to playing on the same team, as with Kevin [De Bruyne], but when we cross the line it s that healthy respect.
Altogether now!
— Manchester City (@ManCity)
We all want to win the game, and afterwards we ll shake hands and it ll be how it always is.
The winner of Thursday s clash will top Group G and face the runner-up in Group H in the round of 16 and Stones said he expected a tough task against Kompany, De Bruyne and Co.
Fellow City players Fabian Delph, Raheem Sterling and Kyle Walker complete a healthy contingent of Premier League champions in England s squad and Stones said Gareth Southgate s men are looking forward to being tested against some of the world s best.
It will be a very interesting game, he said. Belgium are a top international team with a lot of quality players, and it will be interesting for me with a few familiar faces.
But two top sides going against each other is what you want, it’s what I want as a player, because being up against top players brings the best out of you – you want to be tested against them.
