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England vs Senegal, World Cup 2022 result: Harry Kane on the scoresheet as Three Lions cruise into quarter-finals

Phil Foden (left to right), Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka celebrate - England vs Senegal, World Cup 2022 live: Saka scores third after Kane's first goal in Qatar - Michael Regan/Getty Images
Phil Foden (left to right), Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka celebrate - England vs Senegal, World Cup 2022 live: Saka scores third after Kane's first goal in Qatar - Michael Regan/Getty Images

England 3 Senegal 0

By Sam Wallace at Al Bayt Stadium

This was the champions of Africa against the champions of nowhere, the once lost football nation of England, that now for a third successive tournament under Gareth Southgate look again like they are contenders at the business end of it all.

France await on Saturday in the quarter-finals of the World Cup. The defending champions armed with the tournament’s most potent player, Kylian Mbappé – or at least he is for now. There is a teenager from Birmingham with some skin in that game. Jude Bellingham was a revelation anew on this night in the desert at Al Bayt. He ran the game, the first half in particular, as well as any of the greats of England midfield past have done. Except the national team has never quite had a player like this in such a demanding role. So precocious and fresh, and able to make the difficult things look so easy.

There has been a knockout game in each of the Southgate-era tournaments when suddenly his players have found a sweet-spot, and struck open something golden. At Euro 2020 it was the four-goal demolition of Ukraine in the quarter-finals in Rome. Three years earlier in Russia it had been a 2-0 coast past Sweden in Samara at the same stage. Perhaps the nation has come to expect it and yet here it was again – the knockout game that England never looked like losing.

Senegal, winners of the Africa Cup of Nations in February, were beaten by half-time. Two goals late in the first half swiftly delivered from Bellingham and then Phil Foden, who would finish with two assists, for the old guard of the side Jordan Henderson and Harry Kane. That pair might not see another World Cup but the vagaries of form and fitness seem to have delivered them perfectly to this moment.

Jude Bellingham and Jordan Henderson - Stefan Matzke/Getty Images
Jude Bellingham and Jordan Henderson - Stefan Matzke/Getty Images

Foden assisted again before the hour to make the third for Bukayo Saka, his third of the tournament. Southgate chose to leave out his group stage top-scorer, Marcus Rashford in favour of Saka. He did so in spite of a robbery at the home of Raheem Sterling that required him to return home on the evening of the game. Sterling might be back and who knows what side Southgate selects for that France quarter-final. Safe to say that the England manager who was jeered out of Molineux in the summer is calling it right now the pressure of the tournament is on.

A pattern is emerging now to these Southgate wins. Get ready for a slow start. A patient build-up and then something approximating an iron grip. Then comes the strike. For England in this game it was the five minutes around the end of the first half when they galloped into the spaces that Senegal left and killed the game. Southgate’s players seem capable now of picking their moments and this was it.

Jude Bellingham - Manuel Reino Berengui/Getty Images
Jude Bellingham - Manuel Reino Berengui/Getty Images

Senegal’s passing out from the back, in particular Kalidou Koulibaly, had been erratic and now it was simply desperate. Senegal had lost the midfield and in the spaces that opened up Bellingham, in particular, could smell blood.

The teenager was a sensation in the opening win over Iran and now he seemed to be back in that groove all over again. He read every opening three seconds ahead of the rest. When he intercepted he did so on the move immediately, striding up the pitch like a peak-era Steven Gerrard. He had the measure of the Senegal midfield.

With just seconds left in the half, England a goal up, and with an assist to his name already, Bellingham came gliding out of midfield. He slipped over one challenge and then, as the Senegal defence was drawn towards him, he released Foden on the left. England were as fluent as they have been all tournament. A single touch from Foden to Kane and that sweetest of first Qatar World Cup goals for the captain was dispatched past Edouard Mendy.

A perfect goal to cap a shrewd first half. Southgate’s players had given up a few chances but they had gained much more. The team had built from the good judgment of John Stones in defence. They had been patient in possession. Southgate would be critical later of those early stages in terms of the incisiveness of the passing, but he admitted the possession had an effect. “They tired,” he said of Senegal, “because of the way we moved them with the ball.”

Out of possession his players squeezed Senegal effectively. England had targeted the left-back Ismail Jakobs who was shaky on the ball. They had let Koulibaly pass it whenever they could. Then on the turnover they had broken from midfield with great effect. This was Southgateian football at its most effective.

The first goal, from Henderson, was another example of how effectively they could step up the pace in midfield when a flick from Foden gave Kane the space to pick out Bellingham in the left channel. Once again the 19-year-old carried it just far enough, for just long enough, before clipping a ball back from the byline behind the defender tracking him. Bellingham had spotted in his peripheral vision the unlikely figure of Henderson moving into the pocket of space. He took his goal – his third for England in 73 caps – first time with his left foot.

Senegal had moments. Most notably a strong save from Jordan Pickford with his right arm, when Boulaye Dia was slipped in down the left channel. But that had only opened up when Saka erred in possession. Aliou Cissé made three changes at half-time and if anything his side were worse. They seemed to have lost belief in their structure. Nothing worked. Declan Rice and Bellingham dominated the midfield and squeezed up higher and higher. Kane ran the game as a No 10 and it was from him the third goal began.

This time a tackle on the England captain rebounded to Foden and suddenly he was away down the left, drawing Koulibaly in towards him and then, just as the Chelsea man thought he was in range, a cross whipped through his legs. Saka was first to it in the box and judged his touch beautifully to lift it over Mendy.

England's Bukayo Saka scores their third goal - Paul Childs/Reuters
England's Bukayo Saka scores their third goal - Paul Childs/Reuters

In the closing stages, Southgate could rest players. Jack Grealish, Rashford, Mason Mount, Kalvin Phillips and Eric Dier all saw a bit of action. There was some work to do to preserve the clean sheet but, as a game, this was over before Senegal could do anything about it. It has become business as usual for England in tournaments. It never used to be.

Match details

England (4-3-3): Pickford; Walker, Stones (Dier, 77), Maguire, Shaw; Henderson (Phillips, 82), Rice, Bellingham (Mount 77); Saka (Rashford, 65), Kane, Foden (Grealish, 65).
Goals: Henderson (38), Kane (45+3), Saka (57).
Substitutes not used: Pope, Ramsdale, Trippier, Coady, Alexander-Arnold, Wilson, Maddison, Gallagher.
Senegal (4-2-3-1): E Mendy; Sabaly, Koulibaly, Diallo, Jakobs (Ballo-Toure, 84); Ciss (Gueye, 46), Nampalys Mendy; Diatta (Pape Sarr, 46), Ndiaye (Dieng, 46), Ismaila Sarr, Dia (Diedhiou, 72).
Substitutes not used: S Dieng, Mendy, Cisse, Jackson, N'Diaye, Dieng, Gomis, Name, Loum.
Booked: Koulibaly.
Referee: Ivan Barton (El Salvador).
Attendance: 65,985.


England 3 Senegal 0: As it happened


09:48 PM

The England fan reaction


09:46 PM

Jordan Henderson speaks


09:41 PM

Declan Rice is the glue that holds it all together


09:33 PM

And the Man of the match is

Harry Kane wins the Budweiser award for man of the match - Alex Caparros/Fifa via Getty Images
Harry Kane wins the Budweiser award for man of the match - Alex Caparros/Fifa via Getty Images

09:28 PM

Gareth Southgate speaks

[I was pleased with] the ruthlessness of our execution, the way the team worked without the ball. We were a bit sticky with the ball in the first 25-30 minutes. Senegal had a lot of energy, they pressed well and their shape was good. Our best opportunities came from winning the ball back and I thought Jude and Hendo were outstanding in that respect. They're both forward-thinking midfield players. Hendo doesn't get many for us but he's outstanding, He knits the team together.

Any centre-forward wants to be off the mark and it stops all the questions [to Harry Kane]. I thought his link play was much better in the second half. It was important for him and us.

We've got some super young players who we feel it's right to give their opportunity: Jude, Phil, Bukayo tonight. They're heading in a really good direction and these games a re great life experiences for them. The progress they're making is phenomenal. The team has made a very complicated game tonight [ultimately] look straightforward. It wasn't, of course but the mentality and attitude made it look that way.

We've got to wait and see about Raheem. The priority is for him to be with his family and we're going to support that and give him all the time he needs. He's going home. I don't know [if he can return]. I don't want to put him under any pressure. Sometimes football isn't the most important thing. Family come first.

France are an outstanding team with a phenomenal tournament record and outstanding individuals. We've got to find our highest possible level.


09:15 PM

Bellingham on Henderson

I see some of the rubbish that was said about him playing. Honestly, it’s ridiculous. He’s so under-rated technically, and he’s delivered again in a big game with a massive goal, so I think it’s time he gets a bit of respect.


09:14 PM

Foden on Bellingham

I don’t want to big up Jude Bellingham too much because he’s still young, but he’s one of the most gifted players I’ve ever seen. I don’t see a weakness in his game. He’s got everything, and he’s going to be the best midfielder in the world, for sure.

A greybeard at 22, dispensing pearls of wisdom to a 19-year-old.


09:13 PM

Phil Foden speaks

We’re all buzzing but it’s knockout football, so we’ll have to recover tomorrow and think about our next opponent, which is going to be really tough. Senegal are a great team. They’d cause some big teams problems. They were very physical. But it’s about buying time and trying to work out where the space was. I’ve always spoken about bringing my club form to international level, and tonight was probably my best game for England, so I’m really happy. France look the strongest in the competition. Everywhere you look they have talent. But we’ll back ourselves all day. We’re confident.


09:06 PM

Some post-match reading

Mike McGrath has been analysing Gareth Sothgate's strategy: How England perfected the art of the counter-attack to blow Senegal away

And more from Mike on the Raheem Sterling situation.


09:04 PM

Harry Kane speaks

Knockout games are never easy. It was tough. We’ve showed great maturity through the tournament. It’s 3-0 against a really good side. Credit to the boys. Their mentality was top from the beginning, and we took our chances when they came. We feel good. We’ve got good runners. Good players. We’re solid at the back. Three clean sheets in a row is really important. A really good day for us. We have a great mixture of youth and experience. The ball sat up nicely and the connection was perfect. I'm a striker, whenever I score I'm happy. Another knockout win. It was a very good night. We’ll enjoy this one, but our focus turns to France. It’ll be a really tough game, they’re reigning champions, it’ll be a good battle. We’ll recover nicely and get ready for the game.


08:57 PM

Full-time verdict

Very impressive again from England. Yes, we have not played a ‘major’ team yet, but who else is doing this to the so-called lesser nations? You can only beat what is in front of you, but we are doing it extremely well. There is only one team I have seen that has impressed me more than England in this World Cup. Unfortunately, that team is France.


08:55 PM

Full time: England 3 Senegal 0

After being given a severe interrogation for 35 minutes, wilting under the intensity of Senegal's press, England changed tack, got their midfield more involved and scored three exceptionally good team goals.

England go through to play France in the quarter-final on Saturday at 7pm.

The first time they have faced France at a World Cup since 1982, Bryan Robson and all that.


08:53 PM

90+4 min: England 3 Senegal 0

Pickford is trying to put a rocket up his team-mate's backsides for a lack of intensity since the wholesale substitutions. Maguire gets his head to a left-wing corner and the ref blows time's up.


08:51 PM

90+2 min: England 3 Senegal 0

Dieng fires a free-kick into the wall after Rice's high boot hurts the substitute. We'll have two more minutes.


08:50 PM

90 min: England 3 Senegal 0

Grealish sends Shaw down the left of the box to the byline. He dinks a loopy cross beyond the far post. Rashford sprints to his right to try to get there and does but the angle is all but impossible without a deflection by the time he reaches it and turns it into the side-netting.


08:48 PM

87 min: England 3 Senegal 0

England are just running down the clock by hogging possession. Senegal, though, are not being passive, though, and continue fighting in the tackle, earning scraps. Pape Sarr flays a right-foot shot from 30 yards miles over the bar.


08:45 PM

85 min: England 3 Senegal 0

Mount is penalised for a pointless swipe. Senegal take the free-kick, shift it up the right and Maguire puts it out for a throw. Maguire again intercedes when Sass shoots from the throw-in getting enough on it to send it out for corner.


08:44 PM

83 min: England 3 Senegal 0

England are comfortably holding Senegal at bay for now. But that hasn't stopped the drumbeat. Slight lapse of concentration when Dier and Maguire fail to deal with a cross and let Diedhiou steal between them. No damage though, apart from to their eardrums as Pickford yells at them.

Foden, Kane and Saka - Michael Regan/FIFA via Getty Images
Foden, Kane and Saka - Michael Regan/FIFA via Getty Images

08:40 PM

81 min: England 3 Senegal 0

Rashford tries to put it on a plate for Kane, burning past Jakobs and fizzing over a daisy-cutter cross. Kane slid in and tried to finish with the sole of his boot but couldn't get there in time to make the right connection with his left. A gnat's away.

Big round of applause for Henderson as he makes way for Kalvin Phillips.


08:37 PM

79 min: England 3 Senegal 0

Grealish, Kane, Mount and Rashford are pinning Senegal in deep.


08:36 PM

77 min: England 3 Senegal 0

Phillips had been about to come on but he had to sit back down as Dier was sent on in his stead.

Here's Kane's goal:


08:35 PM

75 min: England 3 Senegal 0

Dier and Mount are stripped and ready to come on... for Stones and Bellingham, I'd expect. Koulibaly barges Kane over as the one captain shielded the ball from the other. The subs are as we thought. On come Dier and Mount.


08:33 PM

73 min: England 3 Senegal 0

Senegal free-kick, 25 yards on the right of centre. Pape Sarr tries to diddle Pickford at his near post but the keeper was alive to it and scrambled across to cover as the ball swerved into the side-netting.


08:31 PM

71 min: England 3 Senegal 0

The one-time rockin' Robin Famara Diedhiou replaces Boulaye Dia.


08:30 PM

70 min: England 3 Senegal 0

England are retreating into a lowish block and waiting for mistakes. Drawing fouls and picking off passes.


08:27 PM

67 min: England 3 Senegal 0

Most of the air has gone out of Senegal's balloon, as you would expect.

Saka scores - Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
Saka scores - Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images

08:25 PM

64 min: England 3 Senegal 0

Maguire gives us the 'Who, me? Why?' routine when judged to have shoved Koulibaly when they fought for the centre from the free-kick given for the foul on Henderson. Now there's a sentence that went round the houses. Sorry.

Nampalys Mendy catches Rice on the shin but comes off worse when Rice lands on top of him.


08:23 PM

62 min: England 3 Senegal 0

Patience pays off. Now England can play slow or quick rather than only the slow pace of the ponderous s. Henderson takes a blow to his knee. England send on Rashford and Grealish for Saka and Foden.


08:15 PM

GOOOAL!!!

England 3 Senegal 0 (Saka)  Foden is in like Flynn when Kane is tackled 30 yards from goal on the left. He gobbles up the ball as it bobbles into space. Out comes Sabaly and Foden rides the collision to stride past and lace the ball through Koulibaly's legs. Saka splits to the front post and hooks a left-foot shot past Mendy. Three fine moves. Three fine finishes.

Southgate celebrates - World Cup News Pool (WCNP)
Southgate celebrates - World Cup News Pool (WCNP)

08:15 PM

56 min: England 2 Senegal 0

Kane surprises Mendy with a 25-yard shot through the legs of Pape Sass. The ball wobbles and dips. Mendy gets down to save, spills it but recovers in time.


08:13 PM

54 min: England 2 Senegal 0

Rice picks the ball up on halfway by closing down Namapalys Mendy. He gallops towards the box then rolls the pass to his right to Saka who can't work the angle and bludgeons a shot into hoardings, going straight like Norman Stanley Fletcher eventually did, rather than diagonally.


08:12 PM

52 min: England 2 Senegal 0

England, for the first time, have time and space to knock it around in the Senegal half, probing and stretching. The first move breaks down because of Maguire's miscontrol, the second thrust because of Foden's overhit pass searching for Kane.


08:10 PM

50 min: England 2 Senegal 0

Worryingly for England Foden loses Sabaly and he doesn't get the shout from Shaw. The right-back is played in down the right and he hooks his pass back towards the penalty spot. Maguire might have got a graze of the head to it to keep it away from I. Sarr. It ends up 20 yards out at the feet of Pape Sarr who hits it crisply but well wide.


08:07 PM

48 min: England 2 Senegal 0

Henderson capitalises on a weak header from Jakobs and drives to the byline on the right before standing up a cross into the box but Kane and Saka were on their heels.


08:06 PM

46 min: England 2 Senegal 0

Foden chases Diallo back into his own penalty area, doing unto Senegal what Senegal did to England in the first 35 minutes.

Harry Kane - Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Harry Kane - Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

08:03 PM

Triple Senegal substitution

Pape Gueye, Pape Sarr and Bamba Dieng replace Diatta, Ndiaye and Ciss.


08:01 PM

Rate the players

Who deserves the laurel leaves of an eight and who the indignity of a five?


07:59 PM

Half-time verdict

The first goal came at a vital time as Senegal were starting to cause problems. The lead calmed everyone down. There is still a concern defensively where we need to be better with and without the ball, but with Kane adding that second just before half time they should be able to see this through in the second half.


07:52 PM

Half-time England 2 Senegal 0

England dominated for 10 minutes having put in the hard yards while under the cosh, soaking up pressure, riding their luck but once they strung a counter together, they found the key to winning. Beat the press with superior passing. And they have had their reward twice.


07:47 PM

GOOOOAL!!!

England 2 Senegal 0 (Kane)  Made by Bellingham's tenacity and skill. He wins the ball on his own D, drives forward, rides two bumps and attempted tackles as he roams into the old right-half position then plays a glorious left-foot pass to Foden down the left. Foden matches Bellingham's brilliance with a cute pass of his own to Kane haring down the middle. He picks up his head, takes the ball in his stride, advances then thumps his diagonal shot under Mendy.

Harry Kane - Robert Cianflone/Getty Images
Harry Kane - Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

07:47 PM

45 min: England 1 Senegal 0

Saka drops the shoulder into Nampalys Mendy's solar plexus when the midfielder knocks it past him but can't get round him. Free-kcik. Two minutes of stoppage time are signalled.


07:46 PM

44 min: England 1 Senegal 0

Rice earns a corner. Senegal's press has been caught in no man's land since the goal and England's decision, at last, to bypass it and knock the ball long. Foden tries to pick out Maguire but Koulibaly is too strong for him.


07:44 PM

42 min: England 1 Senegal 0

And just like that, Rip van England awake and twice almost get in, the first from a Pickford goal-kick torpedo to Saka and the next when Shaw is sent down the left by Kane and Foden but takes one touch too many out by the narrow margins on the byline.


07:41 PM

40 min: England 1 Senegal 0

The midfield does its job in an attacking sense after giving their defence problems before.


07:38 PM

GOOOAL!!!

England 1 Senegal 0 (Henderson) And then the midfield comes up trumps. Kane dropped back to take Foden's cute flick out on halfway by the left. Bellingham made the third man run up the left, bombed past his full-back and then cut it back to the penalty spot. Henderson met it perfectly and swept his left-foot shot under Mendy.

Jordan Henderson - FRANCOIS-XAVIER MARIT/AFP via Getty Images
Jordan Henderson - FRANCOIS-XAVIER MARIT/AFP via Getty Images

07:38 PM

38 min: England 0 Senegal 0

Maguire and Stones are inviting the criticism of Lee Dixon et al but it's the midfield ....


07:37 PM

36 min: England 0 Senegal 0

Walker has to pull Sarr back when the Watford winger flies past him. No yellow card, much to Aliou Cisse's disgust. Senegal free-kick on the left about 35 yards out. Walker heads it out but England can't clear their lines.


07:36 PM

35 min: England 0 Senegal 0

England are being torn apart down their right. Stones and Maguire have no options when they get the ball and Senegal successfully hound them for scraps and then build from that. Saka and Walker are both finding Sarr a handful.


07:34 PM

33 min: England 0 Senegal 0

Kane's passing is exceptional and he almost picks out Saka as the Arsenal winger stole down the inside right. If only Kane could pass to ... Kane.


07:33 PM

31 min: England 0 Senegal 0

Terrific save from Pickford with his left hand when Dia shoots from about five yards, smacking the ball into the ground and making it bounce up awkwardly. Poor control from Saka led to that break and Ciss played an excellent pass down the inside-left for Dia.

PIckford - Robert Cianflone/Getty Images
PIckford - Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

07:30 PM

29 min: England 0 Senegal 0

Nampalys Mendy throws himself to the floor while waiting for a throw-in, claiming that Saka elbowed rather than bumped him. Saka is bemused and the referee tells him to get up and get on with it.


07:28 PM

Carragher's verdict

Good start by England. You can already see there is a gulf in quality between the sides. England had a scare on the counter-attack. Pace in Senegal attack caused Maguire a problem. But stop counter attacks and they will go on to win the game.


07:27 PM

26 min: England 0 Senegal 0

It feels like it's going to be one of those nights. The tension is palpable and England, like they did against the USA, can't find any urgency against an aggressive press.


07:26 PM

24 min: England 0 Senegal 0

Maguire's passing is completely off tonight, misplacing a couple and inviting pressure. As Lee Dixon points out, it's because of Senegal's aggressive press and the lack of midfield passing optiosn.


07:24 PM

22 min: England 0 Senegal 0

Rice and Walker stop Ndiaye and Sarr getting in on the left but Senegal come back down the right when Maguire gives the ball away. Diatta fires over the cross towards the penalty spot. Dia tries to meet it with a roundhouse volley but scuffs it. The ball loops up and Sarr steals in behind to blaze over from five yards with only Pickford to beat. Senegal scream that Stones' hand-balled it when Dia tried to shoot but he didn't and it struck the striker's shin.

Senegal miss - Robert Cianflone/Getty Images
Senegal miss - Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

07:21 PM

20 min: England 0 Senegal 0

Walker cuts out Jakobs' pass and plays the ball up the right. Sarr's attempt to block it takes it out for a corner, belatedly awarded.

Foden takes the corner with his left to the near post. Stones makes the split to the front stick but gets ahead of the ball and doesn't connect cleanly, the ball striking head and shoulder and ballooning wide.


07:19 PM

18 min: England 0 Senegal 0

England are very much playing 4-1-4-1 at the moment. Maguire doesn't get a free-kick when Ndiaye bustles past. He goes to talk to the assistant after Stones mops up, pointing out that his shirt was being pulled but he gets no change out of her.

Phil Fden beats Diatta - REUTERS/Molly Darlington
Phil Fden beats Diatta - REUTERS/Molly Darlington

07:15 PM

15 min: England 0 Senegal 0

Bellingham rides another heavy tackle from Ciss but Kane is brought down by Diallo. The ref plays the advantage as Saka takes the ball down the right but runs out of room, stifled by a crowd of green shirts.


07:14 PM

13 min: England 0 Senegal 0

Maguire chases a lost cause down the England left, slides in to stop the ball going out of play and passes it 25 yards up to Kane. The England captain takes it down the left and fizzes over a cross that Saka is a foot away from as it whooshes past his nose.


07:12 PM

11 min: England 0 Senegal 0

Bellingham wins a 40-60 tackle with Nampalys Mendy and bombs down the left to whip over an outswinging cross. Edouard Mendy leaps out, one arm leading  like Clark Kent's alter ego and juts gets enough on it to tip it away from Saka.

Bellingham fouled - REUTERS/Molly Darlington
Bellingham fouled - REUTERS/Molly Darlington

07:09 PM

10 min: England 0 Senegal 0

Edouard Mendy surprises Diallo with a pass that he wasn't expecting and Saka is in like Flynn but the centre-back manages to hold him off, legally says the referee.


07:08 PM

7 min: England 0 Senegal 0

... too high and hard as Bellingham is clattered into by Ciss. A minute later Foden wins the ball and turns it on to Bellingham who is again fouled, 40 yards out left of centre.

England work a good routine, rolling it to Walker who pings a long diagonal to Rice on the left of the area. He nods it back across towards Maguire and Kane but neither can reach it.


07:06 PM

5 min: England 0 Senegal 0

A hairy moment for England as Dia storms through the middle after a sloppy midfield pass. He runs straight at Maguire and Stones, driving through the gap, but a heavy touch s he entered the box knocked it too close to Pickford who bolted out to snaffle it.

Senegal are pressing high and hard.


07:04 PM

3 min: England 0 Senegal 0

Henderson stretches the Senegal defence down the left and earns a throw-in. He tries to feed the ball on from the throw to Foden, slipping him down the left of the box. Kane peels off to the back pots but the ball races out of play before Foden can wrap his instep around it.

The drums resound around the stadium along with horns.


07:02 PM

Don't forget to rate the players

Marks out of 10, please. Be as judgmental as you like.


07:01 PM

1 min: England 0 Senegal 0

England take the knee during the countdown and Senegal kick off, attacking from right to left, bustling up the right and Pickford hacks a backpass out for a throw. Not his fault. He didn't want it hit to him like that.


06:57 PM

Time for the national anthems

God Save the King is rattled through at a decent lick. "OK, boys – quite brisk, moderato, foxtrot."

Followed by Pincez tous vos koras, frappez les balafons. 

Aliou Cissé holds his hand on his heart to sing along.

Senegal - REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay
Senegal - REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay

06:52 PM

The teams are in the tunnel

Harry Kane at the head of the England line with pennant in hand. Harry Maguire and Jordan Pickford are behind him. England have switched to white shorts, Senegal are in all green with yellow and red trim.


06:48 PM

Matt Law expands the Southgate quotes on Sterling

He is dealing with a family matter. I had quite a bit of time with him this morning, but I had to pass it on to other people to help him with that. He is going to deal with that matter and then we will have to take it from there really.


06:47 PM

What do you think the result will be?

Predict away? Me? 3-0.


06:44 PM

Is 'dropping' appropriate any more

In an absurdly inflated 16-a-side game, is being 'dropped' still a thing?


06:40 PM

Southgate speaks

Raheem is going to deal with that matter and we will have to see [if he can come back]. We've liked Bukayo's performances and we think him and Phil deserve their opportunities. We've got to play our way, play to our strengths. We need resilience, experience. We have to adapt and adjust.


06:38 PM

Luke Edwards is in the house

Actually in his house. But our Northern Football Writer will be joining commenters below the line for debate during the match. You can join him below.


06:35 PM

Matt Law says the England players are looking incredibly focused – no laughing or joking in the tunnel

We've just watched pictures of the England players in the tunnel before they went out onto the pitch to start their warm-up. They looked incredibly focussed, no laughing or joking - not even much chatting.

Game faces.

England warm-up - Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters
England warm-up - Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters

06:32 PM

Scenes from the Boxpark in Croydon

Boxpark Croydon - Hollie Adams/Getty Images
Boxpark Croydon - Hollie Adams/Getty Images

06:31 PM

Matt Law's not happy about the PA system: "idiotic shouting and rubbish Euro-pop"

More terrible pre-match entertainment with the PA system drowning out the Senegal band. The Senegal fans are carrying on regardless, but it's virtually impossible to hear them over the idiotic shouting and rubbish Euro-pop.


06:27 PM

Pre-match thoughts from Matt Law and Mike McGrath


06:24 PM

Senegal legend El Hadji Diouf is hoping for penalties

El Hadji Diouf played against England’s “Golden Generation” and believes a lack of team spirit held them back, claiming Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard did not get on as friends.

Senegal’s World Cup hero from 2002 is back at the tournament two decades later. As advisor to his country’s football federation, he is on the pitches at Al-Duhail SC’s training facilities, helping with sessions as his country prepares to face Southgate’s team on Sunday.

He hopes it goes to penalties, as they qualified for Qatar and also became African Cup of Nations champions after shootouts.

He said:

If we get to penalties, we’re going to win it. Easy.

This time of English football is different because they all copy Pep Guardiola and Manchester City, they play the same way and want to have the ball and score a lot of goals and play tiki-taka football.

Players can do it as well, they have a good team and a very good team spirit as well, not like Steven Gerrard and Lampard’s time – the two of them, they don’t like each other, it’s now about team spirit and Gareth Southgate did a great job.

El-Hadji Diouf - Issouf Sanogo/AFP
El-Hadji Diouf - Issouf Sanogo/AFP

06:17 PM

Slowly filling up at Al Bayt Stadium

Senegal fans - Adam Davy/PA
Senegal fans - Adam Davy/PA
England fans - Dan Mullan/Getty Images
England fans - Dan Mullan/Getty Images

06:14 PM

Matt Law on Southgate's selection

Complete guess but I wonder if Sterling absence impacted Southgate's selection. Rashford starting would have meant no pace on the bench with Sterling unavailable. Rashford from the bench gives him pace for later in game.


06:09 PM

Tonight's referee is a professor of organic chemistry

Ivan Barton teaches at the University of El Salvador.


06:03 PM

Jamie Carragher on Southgate's selection

Before the tournament, my favoured front three for England was Kane, Foden and Saka. Having said that, it is a big call from Gareth Southgate to leave out Rashford as he will have been feeling so confident going into this match. But I can also understand the thinking behind it. Rashford is at his most effective on the left. So is Foden. Saka is the better of the trio on the right. So, for me, the decision will have come down to Foden or Rashford. Either way, there is plenty of ammunition from the bench as and when needed.


05:59 PM

The benches

England subs Pope, Ramsdale, Trippier, Alexander-Arnold, Dier, Coady, Mount, Grealish, Phillips, Gallagher, Maddison, Wilson, Rashford. (Sterling and White unavailable).

Senegal subs Gomis, Seny Dieng, Pape Cisse, M Ndiaye, Pape Gueye, Ballo, Toure, Jackson, Bamab Dienf, L Ndiaye, Formose, M Sarr, Diedhious, Name.


05:55 PM

And one last dance

Your teams in full:

England  Jordan Pickford; Kyle Walker, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw; Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham; Bukayo Saka, Harry Kane, Phil Foden.

Senegal  Edouard Mendy; Yousoouf Sabaly, Kalidou Koilibaly, Abdou Diallo, Ismail Jakobs; Pathe Ciss, Nampalys Mendy; Krepin Diatta, Ismaila Sarr, Iliman Ndiaye; Boulaye Dia.


05:51 PM

Two changes for Senegal

Nampalys Mendy returns for Pape Gueye:

Edouard Mendy; Yousoouf Sabaly, Kalidou Koilibaly, Abdou Diallo, Ismail Jakobs; Pathe Ciss, Nampalys Mendy; Krepin Diatta, Ismaila Sarr, Iliman Ndiaye; Boulaye Dia.


05:46 PM

Some bullish thoughts from Al Khor


05:45 PM

Just waiting on Senegal now


05:42 PM

One change for England

Saka for Rashford is the only change.


05:40 PM

Raheem Sterling unavailable for selection

By Mike McGrath at Al Bayt Stadium

Raheem Sterling was not on the bench against Senegal due to personal reasons.

Sterling had been preparing as usual for the World Cup last-16 clash at Al-Bayt Stadium but was granted permission to not be part of the squad.

It is understood he is expected to return for selection if Gareth Soutghate's team progress to the quarter-final at the weekend. The Chelsea winger started in England's opening Group B matches, against Iran and USA, and was on the bench for the victory over Wales ahead of the knockout stages.


05:39 PM

Last 16 records

Senegal have been at this stage, once before, in 2002 when their manager Aliou Cissé was captain. They beat Sweden 2-1 in extra-time by virtue of Henri Camara's second goal. Camara, who played in Britain for Wolves, Celtic, Southampton, Wigan, West Ham, Stoke and Sheff Utd, only retired in 2018 at the age of 42.

England have been in the Round of 16 seven times, beating Paraguay 3-0 in 1986 when Gary Lineker, who scored twice, had his adam's apple crumbled by a vicious elbow, going through thanks to David Platt, see below, four years later, but went out on penalties against Argentina in 1998.

2002 was the only real cakewalk, England going 3-0 up by half-time thanks to goals from Rio Ferdinand, Michael Owen and Emile Heskey, which allowed Sven-Goran Eriksson to rest his strikers for the second half. In 2006 they ground their way past Ecuador. David Beckham scoring the only goal with a 28-yard free-kick.

In South Africa, England's old men were embarrassed by a vibrant Germany side, many of whom would go on to win it in 2014 but allowed themselves the excuse of having a goal ridiculously not given. No need for excuses in Russia in 2018. England got off the floor after Yerry Mina's late,, late equaliser to win on penalties.

It's enough to turn you to drink ... if only.

England fans - Catherine Ivill/Getty Images
England fans - Catherine Ivill/Getty Images

05:19 PM

White v green

England dressing room - Michael Regan/FIFA via Getty Images
England dressing room - Michael Regan/FIFA via Getty Images
Shirts worn by Senegal players are displayed in the dressing room prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 - Shaun Botterill/FIFA via Getty Images
Shirts worn by Senegal players are displayed in the dressing room prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 - Shaun Botterill/FIFA via Getty Images

05:11 PM

England in the last 16, a golden memory

Paul Gascoigne, less than a minute from the end of extra-time in England’s second-round match against Belgium, wins a free-kick 35 yards out and shape to shoot.

We did not know it then but Bobby Robson and his assistant, Don Howe, yelled: “Stop!” Instead, they instructed him to “get it in the box” and he floated a chip diagonally towards the right of the penalty area. The flight flummoxed the Belgian defence like the best spinners use to toy with tailenders. But the substitute David Platt read it fluently and had the skill to pirouette 180 degrees as it dipped to hook the sweetest of volleys past Michel Preud’homme. Cue pandemonium.


05:08 PM

Steve Bruce cannot feel more affection for Senegal boss Aliou Cisse

“I wanted a team that could get after the ball, be happy to defend and be ugly and horrible to play against,” says Steve Bruce of his time as Birmingham City manager. “I’d seen him play in the World Cup for Senegal, when they beat France.

"He was captain and I was always interested in signing captains because they get the armband for a reason. He would never give up, or take a backward step.

“He was as tough as I’ve had as a manager. Hard as nails. Aggressive. You just wouldn’t mess with him. He made himself a big fan favourite with his attitude as much as anything. I loved him as a lad… I loved him to bits.”

You can read the full fascinating profile of the Africa Cup of Nations-winning manager here.


04:59 PM

If Saka does start ...

There's a whiff of Euro 2020 when he played against Germany in the Round of 16, was replaced by Jadon Sancho for the 4-0 victory over Ukraine in the quarters when the Dortmund winger played a blinder, but was brought back for the semi-final against Denmark. Gareth Southgate has long had form for a horses for courses approach with his wide attackers and full-backs.

And if he does play, he is likely to be up against Monaco's Ismail Jakobs, ostensibly a winger.


04:49 PM

Early team news: Saka returns at Rashford's expense

By Mike McGrath at Al-Bayt Stadium

Marcus Rashford has been dropped and Buyako Saka is in line to start in England’s last-16 clash against Senegal tonight.

Gareth Southgate has been deciding on his forward line to face the African Cup of Nations champions and Saka is poised to earn a recall despite Rashford scoring three goals in Group B and putting himself in contention for the Golden Boot.

Saka scored twice against Iran in England’s opener of the tournament and also started against USA before he was on the bench against Wales as Southgate’s team finished top of their group.


12:24 PM

Gareth Southgate will call on Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford for penalty duty

By Sam Wallace in Doha

Gareth Southgate says he would not hesitate to bring on Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford to take penalties again, if England's World Cup round of 16 game against Senegal on Sunday goes to spot-kicks and the pair are not on the pitch.

The two players were among the three Englishmen who missed from the spot against Italy in the Euro 2020 final last summer - Rashford hitting the post and Saka’s shot stopped by goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Since that evening in July last year, Saka has scored three penalties this year for Arsenal, against Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool.

As for Rashford, who came on as a penalty specialist for shootouts in Russia 2018 and Euro 2020, Southgate said that his penalty taking “stats would be among the best in the world”. “Bukayo is now taking them more regularly with his club,” he said. “They’re both in a good space with that.”

Southgate brought on Rashford against Colombia at the same stage of the 2018 World Cup and he was successful from the spot in that shoot-out win. “He came on in Moscow and took a penalty four or five minutes earlier than we put him on at Wembley [three years later],” Southgate said. “I’ve seen lots of teams do that and score, and then it’s the right thing. If you don’t [score] then it’s the wrong thing.

Marcus Rashford of England celebrates after scoring their team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match between Wales and England at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on November 29, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. - Francois Nel/Getty Images
Marcus Rashford of England celebrates after scoring their team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match between Wales and England at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on November 29, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. - Francois Nel/Getty Images

“We’ve got to stick with our processes, give ourselves the best percentages of winning. We feel we are very well prepared. We’ve won two [shoot-outs], we’ve lost the last one. We’ve refined some of those things we didn’t think were quite right. We feel that the process is good.”

The other specialist penalty-taker brought on to do the job who failed to score against Italy was Jadon Sancho, who is not in the squad. Southgate said that he and his coaches had a list of penalty takers but that would be dictated by the ebb and flow of the game and how many substitutions were available at the end of the game. “It depends on who is on the pitch. In the Italy game, we had already had a couple have to come off. In terms of your best, they might not be on the pitch. You want as many of your high rankers, that’s for sure.”

Southgate also emphasised his faith in the penalty-saving ability of Jordan Pickford. He joked that he and other coaches had been watching the goalkeeping styles of some of the great penalty savers, including Paul Cooper. Now 68, Cooper, who played the majority of his career at Ipswich Town, saved eight out of 10 penalties he faced in the 1979-1980 season.

Pickford saved Carlos Bacca’s penalty in 2018 to win the Colombia shootout. He saved from Jorginho when England lost to Italy last year. In the Nations League in 2019, Pickford saved from Josip Drmic and also scored himself in the third place play-off shootout.

“Jordan has been exceptional in the shootouts we've had and that also gives you confidence,” Southgate said. “You know that he’s highly likely to save at least one, if not more. When your goalkeeper can do that, it’s a huge boost to the rest of the team. I don’t know if he is statistically better or worse than others, but he definitely has been excellent in the shootouts that we’ve had.”