ENGLAND have sailed through into a World Cup quarter-final against France after putting Senegal to the sword.
Gareth Southgate and his boys deserve all the credit in the world after showing their class against their African opposition.
Bukayo Saka, Jordan Henderson and Harry Kane scored the goals as the Three Lions won 3-0.
France are up next on Saturday night!
- Result: England 3-0 Senegal
- England XI: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Henderson, Bellingham; Saka, Foden, Kane
- Senegal XI: Mendy; Sabaly, Koulibaly (c), Diallo, Jakobs, Ciss, Mendy; Ndiaye, Diatta, Sarr, Dia
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Team mate shocked at news
Senegal captain, Kalidou Koulibaly, was in complete shock when told of the news of Raheem Sterling:
I really didn’t know. I’m really surprised. I hope his family is good. Now I will call him and see what happened to him. But I hope he will be good and his family is good.
Kalidou Koulibaly
Senegal player ratings:
E Mendy 5
Sabaly 6
Koulibaly 6
Diallo 5
Jakobs 4 (Ballo-Toure, 84, 4)
I Sarr 6
N Mendy 5
Ciss 5 (Gueye 46, 6)
Diatta 6 (P Sarr, 46, 5)
I Ndiaye 5 (B Dieng, 46, 5)
Dia 6 (Diedhiou, 72, 5)
Kane scores on and off the pitch
Harry Kane silenced the critics as he scored his first goal in an England shirt in open play this year.
Dropping deeper, looking to link the midfield and attack, Kane scored well into added time at the end of the first half to send England 2-0 before the interval.
He celebrates the win with a kiss with wife Katie Goodland.
Always a keen Walker
Football is over, time to get back to parent responsibilities for England’s Kyle Walker.
He can enjoy the victory today but next weekend he will have a more willing runner to look after in the form of Kylian Mbappe.
Let’s hope he is up to that test just as much.
England player ratings:
MARCUS RASHFORD (for Saka, 65mins) – 6
A few bursts of pace to keep Senegal on their toes as match petered out
JACK GREALISH (for Foden, 65mins) – 6
As against Wales, kept possession well without threatening much.
ERIC DIER (for Stones, 77mins) – 6
An uneventful run-out but useful if he is to be called upon against France.
MASON MOUNT (for Bellingham, 77mins) – 6
Pressed high to keep Senegal from having a sniff of a consolation.
KALVIN PHILLIPS (for Henderson, 82mins) – 6
Gained a few more minutes on the pitch as Southgate rested legs.
Security checks Harry’s forward burst
If only the host nation’s football team could have shown defence as tight as the stadium security.
England’s Harry Maguire was stopped from seeing his family and friends.
I’ve never seen so many shirts saying ‘Maguire 6’.
Southgate praises midfield display
The England manager was asked what pleased him most in the display against Senegal:
“The ruthlessness of our execution and the way the team worked off the ball.”
“We were a bit sticky with the ball in the first 25-35 minutes. Senegal had a lot of energy, pressed well and their shape was good. And I felt our best opportunities came from winning the ball from them.”
“Jude and Hendo in particular were outstanding in that aspect of the game.”
“They are both forward running and thinking midfield players. Hendo doesn’t get many for us but he’s been outstanding.”
“He’s such a leader, he knits the team together and around the camp he is brilliant. His performances have been top drawer.”
Credit: Alamy England player ratings:
BUKAYO SAKA – 7
Justified his starting place by playing his part in first-half operation to stop Sarr and then finally making his presence felt at the other end by scoring third.
HARRY KANE – 7
Fed off scraps until his fine through ball to Bellingham led to opener. Broke his tournament duck at perfect time and became a creative hub as England took control.
PHIL FODEN – 8
After finding it hard to get into game, burst into life to start move for opener then tee up Kane for second and Saka for third. Like Saka, repaid Southgate’s faith.
England player ratings:
JORDAN HENDERSON – 8
Worked his socks off pressing the ball and shutting off passing lanes, then burst through to ease England nerves with opener. Should silence critics with a big-game performance.
DECLAN RICE – 8
England’s steady Eddie kept his head while some about him were losing theirs. Full of running and heart as England’s midfield turned the game and saved the day.
JUDE BELLINGHAM – 9
Actually faded a bit after powerful start, but came good again in style to drive England to victory. Fine run and cross for first goal, superb to create second, excellent all round.
England player ratings:
JORDAN PICKFORD – 7
Important one-handed save from Boulaye Dia when Senegal were on top. A much less worrying second half. Distribution improved from group stage .
KYLE WALKER – 7
Lucky to escape first-half booking for foul on Ismaila Sarr. Otherwise did a decent job on the dangerman but that restricted his impact at the other end. Bring on Mbappe!
JOHN STONES – 6
Looked on edge, uncharacteristically careless with the ball and headed decent chance over bar in first half. Improved in second, but pressure was off by then.
HARRY MAGUIRE – 6
Tested by Senegal’s pace from early on and loose pass led to Sarr chance that should have been buried. Like Stones, will have to show more grace under fire.
LUKE SHAW – 7
Did what he had to do, and a lot more calmly than his centre backs. Had less to worry about on his side than Walker and so was able to offer a bit more going forward.
Hey Jude, don’t let me down
England’s young midfielder Jude Bellingham absorbs the World Cup buzz, sat in the middle of the pitch after the game.
Bellingham, put in a solid shift and his partnership with Henderson and Rice was the foundation for this England win.
Maybe he’s checking his Sun World Cup Dream Team.
French test for Three Lions
England will now face reigning champions France in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The game will kick-off at 7pm, taking place in this exact stadium on Saturday.
Fans can follow the action here, to see if Gareth Southgate’s side can move one step closer to ‘bringing it home’.
Bell of the ball
Jude Bellingham is quickly turning himself into one of world football’s hottest properties.
The Dortmund midfielder has stood out from that first group game against Iran and hasn’t let his levels drop since.
Playing a slightly different game, he found himself out on the left a lot but England utilised this to their advantage.
Sterling home broken into
News has broken that Raheem Sterling was forced to return home from the World Cup after his home was ransacked by burglars.
The Chelsea attacker has returned to the UK to deal with his family matter but is expected to return to Qatar.
That being said, Southgate has pointed out:
“He’s going to go and deal with that matter. And then we will have to take it from there really.”
Jordan shines in Middle East
Much-maligned England midfielder, Jordan Henderson, silenced his critics this evening with another stand-out performance.
The Liverpool man kept his place off the back of his performance against Wales but certainly delivered today.
His partnership in the centre of midfield with Jude Bellingham was the difference this evening.
While England may have ended up winning the game comfortably, the midfield trio of Rice, Henderson and Bellingham contributed to the win more than anyone.
Credit: Getty
FT: England 3-0 Senegal
A dominant victory for England in terms of possession and shots on target.
For their part, Senegal could have scored themselves but just lacked the clinical-edge the Three Lions had.
FT: England 3-0 Senegal
The referee blows his whistle to end the game.
England are into the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
There will be some sore heads in work tomorrow.
England 3-0 Senegal
90+2. So England will take on France next Saturday.
Games don’t get much bigger than that.
Rice is penalised for a studs-up challenge, giving Senegal a free kick on the edge of the box.
Credit: Getty England 3-0 Senegal
90. We are going to have four additional minutes.
The England fans continue to sing ‘Jerusalem’.
England come forward once again.
Shaw’s cross finds Rashford who can only find the side-netting.
England 3-0 Senegal
88. It is all about game management now for England.
Keep the ball, pass it around, take the result.
Three goals and a clean sheet in the knockout rounds of tournament football is something anyone would take before the game.
England 3-0 Senegal
86. Mount is penalised for an unnecessary foul.
Senegal continue to come forward, testing the England defensive capabilities.
They have won a corner.
Pickford claims the cross all too easily.
England 3-0 Senegal
84. Whoever has been on these drums for the last few hours, deserves their break at the end of this game.
It has been non-stop.
Jakobs comes off for Ballo-Toure.
England 3-0 Senegal
82. Jordan Henderson leaves the pitch for Kalvin Phillips.
Great applause for Henderson as he comes off the pitch.
Kalvin Phillips by the end of this game may have played for minutes for England than he has Man City.
Credit: PA England 3-0 Senegal
80. We are into the final ten minutes of the game.
Grealish is happy to run at the Senegalese players still.
He feeds it out wide and Rashford whips a low cross looking for Kane.
Kane slides in but cannot make contact.
Close.
England 3-0 Senegal
78. Luke Shaw takes a free kick from a wide position.
He finds Maguire deep in the box but his header is easily cleared.
Senegal trying to retain possession more now.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
