The possibility of England facing holders France in a World Cup quarter-final is a mouthwatering prospect – but don’t tell that to Three Lions head coach Gareth Southgate. Because before even thinking about a potential last-eight battle against the world champions, England must first beat the African champions, Senegal, in the round of 16 at the Al Bayt Stadium on Sunday evening.
Senegal finished second in group A behind the Netherlands and Southgate has been “very impressed” with their World Cup last-16 opponents. He knows the “size of the job” ahead for the England squad.
Head coach Aliou Cisse has done “a fantastic job”, Southgate said in his pre-match press conference. Senegal are African champions, are “very proud” and have “great spirit and belief in their team”. They have some “excellent individual players” who can “cause problems”, but have a “good structure” as well. “Senegal will be a very dangerous side,” he added. “We know many of their players who play in the Premier League and throughout Europe.”
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Midfielder Declan Rice knows that the Three Lions are onto a “bigger test” than the group games and the Lions of Teranga are going to be really tough. “It’s the knockout stages and we want to win,” he said. “If you don’t win, you go home, but that’s not what we’re aiming for. We want to get to the end of the tournament.”
Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly scored the winner against Ecuador
(Image credit: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
‘Pressure is all on England’
Senegal came into the World Cup without their world-class talisman Sadio Mané, who was ruled out of the tournament after sustaining a knee injury playing for Bayern Munich. However, Mané’s absence “doesn’t make a difference” to the fixture, Southgate added. “We have to be prepared and at our very best.”
Despite Mané’s injury, Senegal’s squad is full of players who ply their trade at the biggest leagues around the world. With Chelsea’s Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy, the captain and goalkeeper respectively, and Leicester’s Nampalys Mendy, Crystal Palace’s Cheikhou Kouyate and Watford’s Ismaila Sarr, Senegal “still have more than enough quality to worry any team”, said Rob Draper in the Daily Mail.
England skipper Kane agreed that Koulibaly and Mendy are “really good players” and they’re an “important part” of the Senegal team. “But they’ve got loads more threats,” the striker added.
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Cisse’s side may have some “very talented players”, said Jermaine Jenas on BBC Sport, but their “biggest weapon” against England will be their “mindset”. Whatever happens to them in this tournament now, “they will still be celebrated”, he added. Senegal will go into this last-16 tie with “no fear of failure whatsoever”. The pressure is “all on England”.
The winners of this last-16 encounter will face France in the quarter-finals on Saturday 10 December at the Al Bayt Stadium.
Match facts
Who: England vs. Senegal
What: Fifa World Cup round of 16
When: Sunday 4 December 2022
Where: Al Bayt Stadium
Kick-off time: 7pm (all times GMT)
How to watch on TV in the UK
Sunday’s last-16 tie between England and Senegal will be shown live in the UK on ITV. Coverage begins at 6pm and the match kicks-off at 7pm.
England striker Marcus Rashford scored twice against Wales
(Image credit: Alex Livesey/Danehouse/Getty Images)
Team news
After making changes to his team for the final group B game against Wales, England boss Southgate has a number of selection dilemmas for the Senegal clash. Kyle Walker, Jordan Henderson, Phil Foden and Marcus Rashford all came in for the group finale, replacing Kieran Trippier, Mason Mount, Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling. With Rashford and Foden both scoring in the 3-0 win against the Welsh, they will hope to keep their places in the starting XI. The Three Lions will be without Arsenal defender Ben White for the rest of the tournament after he withdrew from the squad for personal reasons.
Senegal will definitely be without Everton midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye. He is suspended for one game after picking up two yellow cards in the group stage. Should Senegal progress, Nampalys Mendy, Boulaye Dia, Pathe Ciss, and Ismail Jakobs would miss the next match if they get booked against England.
Possible starting XIs
England: Jordan Pickford; Kyle Walker, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw; Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson; Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling
Senegal: Edouard Mendy; Youssouf Sabaly, Kalidou Koulibaly, Abdou Diallo, Ismail Jakobs; Pathe Ciss, Pape Gueye; Pape Matar Sarr, Iliman Ndiaye, Ismaila Sarr; Boulaye Dia
Predictions
“I am confident” about England’s chances, said Chris Sutton on the BBC. Although I don’t think Senegal “will let them have this all their own way”. I think the “strength on the bench” will make the difference for Gareth Southgate, whoever begins the game. Prediction: England 2 Senegal 1.
Senegal will offer “more threat than anyone” England have faced so far, said Michael Potts on RadioTimes.com. But England will respond with “a far greater armoury” and give the African side “plenty of problems to deal with”. Prediction: England 2 Senegal 0.
Having conceded at least once in all three matches so far, Senegal “are ill-equipped to survive an onslaught from England’s exuberant front line”, said Jonathan O’Shea on SportsMole, provided Southgate’s side “play to their full potential”. The absence of integral players may see Africa’s top team “slain by the Three Lions” in Al Khor. Prediction: England 2 Senegal 0.
The Three Lions have “extra strength in depth”, which could prove “vital” late on, said Jack Rathborn in the Independent. “So we’ll lean towards a narrow win for England.” Prediction: England 1 Senegal 0.
England and Senegal may be meeting each other for the first time, but “our supercomputer has little doubt about the way this one will go”, said Nicholas McGee on Opta Analyst. The Three Lions have never lost in seven World Cup meetings with African opposition and are given “a 63.5% shot of prevailing”. Senegal are “considerable underdogs at 13.8%”, with a draw that would force extra-time or penalties a “more realistic outcome at 22.7%”.
The stadium
The 60,000-capacity Al Bayt Stadium in the city of Al Khor hosted six group games, including the opening match of the tournament between Qatar and Ecuador. Knockout matches at the stadium include this round of 16 tie, one quarter-final and one semi-final. Its design is inspired by the tents historically used in the Gulf region.
Squads
England
Head coach: Gareth Southgate
Key player: Harry Kane
One to watch: Bukayo Saka
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Newcastle), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)
Defenders: Kieran Trippier (Newcastle), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Kyle Walker (Man City), Harry Maguire (Man Utd), John Stones (Man City), Eric Dier (Tottenham), Conor Coady (Everton, on loan from Wolves), Luke Shaw (Man Utd)
Midfielders: Declan Rice (West Ham), Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Kalvin Phillips (Man City), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Mason Mount (Chelsea)
Forwards: Harry Kane (Tottenham), Callum Wilson (Newcastle), Marcus Rashford (Man Utd), Raheem Sterling (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Phil Foden (Man City), Jack Grealish (Man City), James Maddison (Leicester City)
Players who have left the squad: Ben White (Arsenal)
Senegal
Head coach: Aliou Cisse
Key player: Kalidou Koulibaly
One to watch: Nampalys Mendy
Goalkeepers: Seny Dieng (Queens Park Rangers), Alfred Gomis (Rennes), Edouard Mendy (Chelsea)
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Mike Starling is the digital features editor at The Week, where he writes content and edits the Arts & Life and Sport website sections and the Food & Drink and Travel newsletters. He started his career in 2001 in Gloucestershire as a sports reporter and sub-editor and has held various roles as a writer and editor at news, travel and B2B publications. He has spoken at a number of sports business conferences and also worked as a consultant creating sports travel content for tourism boards. International experience includes spells living and working in Dubai, UAE; Brisbane, Australia; and Beirut, Lebanon.
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