World Cup

GARETH SOUTHGATE has got one hell of a selection headache ahead of England’s World Cup round of 16 clash with African champions Senegal.The Three Lions finished top of Group B after recording a draw with the USA and two thumping wins over Iran and Wales.
Southgate has a selection headache ahead of the clash with SenegalCredit: Getty
Rashford is the World Cup’s top scorerCredit: Splash
Foden scored against WalesCredit: PA
Phil Foden and Marcus Rashford, in particular, are in red-hot form.
Manchester United ace Rashford bagged a brace in the 3-0 win over Wales to add to the goal he scored against Iran, making him the World Cup’s joint-top scorer.
And Foden added some much needed creative spark in the final third, and was rewarded with a goal in the second half against the Dragons.
They’ll be competing with England mainstays Raheem Sterling and Bukayo Saka, though.

READ MORE ON WORLD CUP
Both Sterling and Saka have netted in Qatar, with their goals coming in the 6-2 win over Iran.
Should England see off Senegal, a quarter-final date with reigning world champions France or Poland awaits.
Strange things have already happened this World Cup.
Poland beating France could be the next, or Senegal beating England.
Most read in Football
England’s World Cup stats
HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON THE WORLD CUP
But how could Southgate’s Three Lions line up to make sure they’re into the last eight?
4-2-3-1
Southgate has used this formation twice at this World Cup, deploying it against Iran and the USA.
Mason Mount started in the No10 role, but he’s yet to score this tournament, while Foden has.
Kyle Walker got 57 minutes under his belt against Wales, so Kieran Trippier may come back in to hand the City ace more recovery time.
Should Southgate go with the 4-2-3-1, Trippier will start in a back four alongside John Stones, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw, and they’ll be tasked with protecting Jordan Pickford.
Declan Rice will start in all three of these set-ups.
His midfield partner so far has been Jude Bellingham, but that could change with Kalvin Phillips returning to fitness and Jordan Henderson being handed minutes.
Rashford could start off the right and Sterling off the left, but they could rotate during the game.
They’ll provide the legs to support striker Harry Kane.
Foden and Rashford could keep their place
4-3-3
England switched to a three-man midfield against Wales, bringing in Henderson while dropping Mount.
Southgate’s men dominated the ball.
The same keeper and back four will remain, but a tweak could be made in midfield.
England need to be aggressive in the knockouts, especially against the likes of France.
And so Kalvin Phillips could come into the three-man midfield alongside Rice and Bellingham.
Phillips is good in a tackle and controlled in possession.
His passing range is excellent too.
Kane will start, but changes could be made out wide with Rashford being pushed out to the left and Saka playing on the right.
Phillips could add some bite to the midfield
3-4-3
This set-up may appear against Senegal, but if it doesn’t and England get through, you can bank on seeing it in the latter stages against higher ranked opposition.
This formation would see Walker come back into the team, especially with Ben White returning home for personal reasons.
It could also allow Southgate to test out Trent Alexander-Arnold as a wing-back.
His talent is undeniable going forward but he’s defensively shaky.
Walker could provide the perfect stability for Alexander-Arnold to influence England in the final third.
Pickford, Maguire and Stones would all keep their place, as would Shaw.
Read More on The Sun
Rice, again, will play but with this set-up Southgate could go safe with Phillips rather than Bellingham.
Pace, pace, pace. Foden on the left, Rashford on the right and Kane up top.
Southgate’s 3-4-3 will surely return at some point IF England make it through More

IT’S football but for Generation Z.A dizzying download of data, overlaid onto the pitch in front of your eyes.
FIFA’s app gives fans stunning live insight into matchesCredit: FIFA+
The app allows users to put their phone in front of the pitch and see an array of statsCredit: FIFA+
The VR technology is an insight to the future of the beautiful gameCredit: FIFA+
But this isn’t a vision of some hi-tech future.
It is the here and now at the World Cup, offering an insight into how fans will watch the game in the years to come.
Every supporter attending a match here in Qatar can download the FIFA+ app on their smartphones, unlocking the door to a very different approach.
You can get teams in their formations, text updates, real-time statistics, an overview of the competition and video clips after matches are completed.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL

The real eye-opener, though, comes when you point your camera at the pitch in front of you.
Instantly recognising the venue, you have a choice of as-it-happens graphics.
If you want to know how far Marcus Rashford or Harry Maguire have run, how many passes made, or even how many passes misplaced, the app will tell you.
But you can also get heat-maps showing exactly where individual players or entire teams have dominated or been played off the park.
Most read in Football
FOOTBALL OFFERS
In fact, there is almost too much information, although absolutely brilliant for the tactical nerd who wants to break down exactly how teams have set up to beat their opponents.
And there’s no reason why it couldn’t be introduced in the Prem, too.
Where there’s a will, there’s a way. More

FANS are sharing a wild World Cup conspiracy theory with Spain’s loss to Japan handing them potentially an easier route to the final.World Cup Group E’s final fixtures didn’t disappoint with all teams in with a chance of reaching the knockouts before kick-off.
Germany were knocked out in the group stages for the second World Cup in a rowCredit: Reuters
Spain have an easier route to the final as a result of their loss to JapanCredit: Getty
Spain and Japan occupied first and second, while Costa Rica were a close third and Germany were in fourth.
At one stage, Japan and Costa Rica were heading through with Germany and Spain crashing out.
Costa Rica came from a goal down to capture a 2-1 lead, but collapsed late on.
The win for Germany would have been enough to see them through had Japan lost against Spain or played out a draw.

READ MORE ON WORLD CUP
However, Japan snatched a 2-1 win to seal top spot of Group E, knocking Germany out of the competition and making Spain settle for second.
Spain won’t be too fussed, though, as they’ve seemingly been handed an easier route to the World Cup final.
Mexico World Cup legend Hugo Sanchez has even suggested the Spanish lost on purpose.
The former Real Madrid forward, who played in three World Cups for Mexico, said as reported by Diario AS: “I assure you. I was not there and I’m not in the mind of Luis Enrique but he had thought about what was the best way to avoid playing Brazil in the quarter-finals.
Most read in Football
HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON THE WORLD CUP
“Yes there is a risk but it’s a risk worth taking. It’s not that they fear Brazil but they respect them.”
Sanchez later added: “The coach is never going to admit it. Managers don’t say: ‘I let them win’.”
And some fans are spreading the same wild conspiracy theory.
Spain will face Morocco – topped Group F while knocking out Belgium – and then potentially Portugal in the quarter-finals.
The Spaniards would also avoid Brazil up until a possible final matchup.
One fan said on Twitter: “Spain intentionally lost to Japan to avoid a potential quarter-final meeting with Brazil.”
Another said: “Spain knew finishing second will favor them more.
“Who would u rather play against in a one-off match, Croatia or Morocco?
“By finishing second, Spain will avoid Brazil and Argentina too.”
A third quipped: “Spain has nothing to celebrate despite evading Croatia/Brazil and getting rid of Germany, all with one stone.”
Read More on The Sun
Before kick-off, Germany media Bild highlighted that Spain and Japan had recently struck up a cooperative relationship in youth football, women’s football and referee training. 
Japan will now take on World Cup 2018 finalists Croatia in the round of 16. More