Al Khor, Qatar: England overcame a pedestrian begin to surge to a snug 3-0 victory over Senegal on Sunday as objectives by Jordan Henderson, Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka swept them right into a mouth-watering World Cup quarter-final conflict with holders France.
England took a very long time to impose themselves on the African champions, a crew they’d by no means confronted earlier than, and survived a few scares earlier than two objectives late within the first half modified the texture of the evening and it was no contest after the break.
The victory prolonged England’s all-time unbeaten run in opposition to African groups to 21 video games, together with eight in World Cups. Morocco, who face Spain on Tuesday, are actually the one African crew left within the match.
The absence of the suspended Idrissa Gueye and injured Cheikhou Kouyate left Senegal’s midfield too underpowered to pose issues for England.
With Sadio Mane lacking the match by means of harm the Africans additionally lacked a leading edge to bother an England defence that saved a 3rd successive World Cup clear sheet for the primary time in 20 years.
England’s Jordan Henderson (left) celebrates his purpose with Jude Bellingham in opposition to Senegal. Picture: Twitter/ @FIFAWorldCup
Though it was ultimately a convincing victory, England will want to take a look at how and why they took so lengthy to impose themselves.
For a lot of the first half they had been gradual and static and a sequence of misplaced passes gifted Senegal possibilities. One of the best of them fell to Boulaye Dia and solely the robust left arm of keeper Jordan Pickford prevented the Africans taking the lead.
With the relentless Senegalese drummers spurring their males on, Englands usually vociferous followers had been silent – and had nothing to carry them.
They discovered their voice after 38 minutes although when England lastly injected some tempo, breaking down the left by means of Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham, who crossed for late-arriving Henderson to stroke residence the opener.
Kane had an virtually an identical likelihood minutes later and although he sidefooted over, his purpose drought at this match got here to an finish in emphatic fashion in first-half stoppage time.
Harry Kane celebrates England’s second purpose. Picture: AFP/Jack Guez
Bellingham once more surged from his personal field and fed Foden, who rolled the ball into the trail of the captain to smashed in an unstoppable shot to develop into England’s eighth scorer in Qatar. It was a lead that had appeared unlikely however England got here out filled with confidence after the break and it now not felt like a contest.
Saka, recalled by coach Gareth Southgate in his solely change from the win over Wales, cleverly lifted within the third after 58 minutes following a penetrating run and low cross by Foden. It was England’s twelfth purpose of the match, essentially the most by any crew in Qatar and matching their all-time report set 4 years in the past once they went all the way in which to the semifinals.
From then on England had been in a position to undergo the motions and hold out of bother as they’re nonetheless but to have a yellow card and appear to have averted any main accidents going into the France showdown.
They know they are going to be unlikely to get away with a equally gradual begin subsequent Saturday evening in opposition to a French crew who impressively dispatched Poland 3-0 earlier on Sunday, however the holders too will probably be properly conscious that their previous rivals possess the weapons to do actual harm in the event that they get the possibility.