England 3 Senegal 0
Some followers want England could be extra fluent and daring. Think about the goalscoring information Gareth Southgate’s workforce may shatter if that occurred. As it’s, England’s cautious formations have produced 12 targets in 4 video games, scored by eight totally different gamers — a measure of the number of England’s attacking threats.
Marcus Rashford, who scored two within the earlier recreation towards Wales, solely received on as a sub right here, after England had dispatched the African champions on this second-round match inside an hour.
Job finished up to now — however in subsequent Saturday’s quarter remaining, the world champions France will likely be lessons above any workforce England have but confronted right here.
Within the huge Al Bayt Stadium within the desert outdoors Doha, a troupe of Senegal followers behind one objective danced and drummed all through, giving the match a rhythm it initially didn’t deserve.
England began poorly, with misguided again passes from first Harry Maguire after which Bukayo Saka gifting Senegal two good possibilities. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford got here to the rescue twice, storming out to impede Ismaïla Sarr, and later stopping Boulaye Dia’s shot. If England are this profligate on Saturday, they in all probability received’t get away with it towards French forwards Kylian Mbappé and Olivier Giroud.
England’s man of the match up to now has arguably been 19-year-old Jude Bellingham of Borussia Dortmund, who has displaced Kalvin Phillips in the one distinct change to the beginning XI that received to the delayed remaining of Euro 2020 final yr. A remarkably versatile participant, Bellingham began the match as holding midfielder, then shone as a playmaker, and tonight typically operated as an outside-left.
“I don’t suppose we may have predicted how rapidly he would mature,” mentioned Southgate afterwards. Bellingham’s runs and near-faultless passing exploited Senegal’s weak point down their proper flank: their right-back, Youssouf Sabaly, is a reserve at Betis in Sevilla. In a beautiful five-man transfer on 38 minutes, Bellingham surged down the wing and crossed low for Jordan Henderson, not a daily scorer, who slotted residence. In a curious objective celebration, Henderson and Bellingham bumped foreheads.
At that, Senegal’s defensive organisation cracked. Within the final seconds earlier than halftime, Bellingham launched a counterattack with a masterful run out of defence and coolly held the ball till he may attain Phil Foden on that very same left flank. Foden crossed immediately to Harry Kane, who fired residence his first objective of this World Cup. Kane now has 52 for England — just one behind record-holder Wayne Rooney — however the truth is is remodeling from a goalscoring quantity 9 to playmaking quantity 10. He was deservedly named man of the match.
Foden was enjoying instead of Raheem Sterling, who was unavailable after his household in England had suffered an armed break-in at their residence. “He’s flying again to England,” mentioned Southgate.
Within the second half Foden continued the tormenting of Sabaly, notching his second help with a cross from the best that Saka flicked residence. As common, England completed a excessive proportion of their possibilities.
“Ruthless”, Kane known as it. “Our errors had been paid for in money,” agreed Senegal’s coach Alou Cissé.
The final half-hour was a formality, with England utilizing all 5 substitutes, till it was time for the followers’ favorite “Candy Caroline” to ring out over the desert. England have nonetheless by no means misplaced to an African workforce.
Southgate is aware of that World Cups are received extra by closed defences than prodigious ahead traces, and he will likely be relieved that, after that shaky defensive begin, England barely allowed Senegal one other sniff at objective. It was England’s third straight clear sheet. Their solely targets conceded right here in Qatar have been two late ones towards Iran after that recreation was already lengthy since received.
Disposing of middling sides at tournaments has change into routine for Southgate’s workforce — not one thing that might be mentioned about another England sides of current reminiscence. From 1968 by 2016, England received simply six knockout video games in huge tournaments. Since 2018, Southgate’s males have received one other six.
However they’ve persistently been outplayed by top-class, possession-hungry opponents in deciding video games: by Belgium and Croatia on the final World Cup, and by Italy within the remaining of Euro 2020.
Towards France their activity will likely be to maintain as a lot possession as potential, passing their approach from the again, somewhat than giving the French the ball on a regular basis and getting pushed again into their very own penalty space, as occurred within the earlier defeats.
Foden and Rashford each have cause to hope they are going to begin towards France. Sterling has been considered one of Southgate’s stalwarts since he took over in 2016 and the supervisor hardly ever modifications his aspect. However even when the winger had been accessible on Saturday, he could be fortunate to get his place again. England will in all probability shift from 4 on the again towards Senegal to 5 towards the French, with three centre backs and two full backs to attempt to counter Mbappé’s tempo and brilliance. However the man from Bondy leads the World Cup’s scoring charts with 5 targets in 4 video games.
This England technology is an skilled aspect on the peak of its cycle. It received’t have a greater shot at profitable a World Cup, and France somewhat than Senegal would be the measure of whether or not it’s as much as it. Southgate rightly known as it “the most important check we are able to face”.
