INGHILTERRA – SENEGAL | Sunday 8pm
It is not only the respective lion symbols that unite England and Senegal, who are set to do battle in one of the most interesting and potentially gripping round of 16 finals. Both, in fact, managed to qualify for the round of 16 without the contribution of their goal scorers: Gareth Southgate’s selection scored a staggering nine goals – the best attack in the tournament along with Spain’s – but none of them were scored by Harry Kane.
The invaluable work of the Tottenham striker, especially in the backs and aerial game, should never be underestimated. Yet the fact that he is still on a dry spell despite having played all three group stage matches is shocking. On the other hand, the African champions had to learn to do without their star player Sadio Mané: the Bayern Munich striker was injured before leaving for Qatar, news that threw an entire nation into panic. But, despite lacking the goals and charisma of their most iconic player, the Lions of the Teranga have overcome the first hurdle and return to the knockout phase of a World Cup since South Korea-Japan 2002.
English side progressing in spurts
First place, seven points, zero defeats, nine goals scored and only two conceded. And so far there is very little to reproach themselves with. However, there was no shortage of shadows in England’s journey through a far from prohibitive round. The selection of the Three Lions went in flashes: overwhelming against Iran and Wales, annihilated 6-2 and 3-0 respectively on the first and last day; uncertain and appearing uninspired against the USA, which stopped Kane and his companions at 0-0. It was a match that brought to mind the English fans – and, of course, also the English insiders, who were less than sympathetic towards the coach – the lacklustre and offensively inadequate performances of the last Nations League, which ended with a humiliating relegation to League B.
In short, the talk is always the same when it comes to England. The talent that Southgate has at his disposal is enormous and compared to the last European Championship – when they were defeated only on penalties by Italy in the final – some youngsters (Bellingham, Rashford, Saka, Foden) seem to have exploded and are ready to drag the team towards a triumph awaited since 1966. It remains to be seen whether the growth, besides technical, also concerns mental resilience, but this will only be answered when the stakes become higher. The inside or outside challenge with Senegal, in this sense, is an important test, considering that from this moment of the competition no mistakes are allowed.
Senegal, there is life beyond Mané
Koulibaly
The team coached by Aliou Cissé is one of two African selections, along with the surprising Morocco, to have survived the group stage. And it was by no means a foregone conclusion that Senegal would be able to snatch qualification, precisely because of the weighty absence of a central and often decisive element such as Mané. And yet, led by the wisdom of former Neapolitan Koulibaly, the Lions of the Teranga performed well on the whole in a grouping in which there were, in addition to the hosts Qatar, Holland and Ecuador.
Their adventure had not got off to a great start, although the 2-0 defeat to the Dutch in the opener was basically the result of two defensive errors in the final, after Senegal had missed numerous goal-scoring opportunities. Goals, however, came without any major problems in the next two matches: first the 3-1 win over lowly Qatar and then the 2-1 success in the very even ‘play-off’ against the South Americans, pierced by Koulibaly himself 20 minutes from the final whistle. Cissé has some problems in defence, which has never been inviolate so far. Good in terms of grit, speed and running, but the organisation is a bit lacking.
England-Senegal: latest line-up news
The last game with Wales convinced Southgate that Rashford and Foden can’t be left out, especially at this time. Confirmed, therefore, the offensive trident with the untouchable Kane and the two ‘terrible youngsters’ from Manchester United and Manchester City. No 4-2-3-1, then: Sterling, Saka and Mount will start from the bench, the same goes for Alexander-Arnold, who continues to be the great England outcast. At the back, the coach will also reintroduce the controversial pair formed by Stones and Maguire.
It will be 4-3-3 also for Senegal: in attack, Salernitana’s striker Dia will be supported by Ndiaye and Sarr, while in midfield the absence of the disqualified Gana Gueye, replaced by Nampalys Mendy, will weigh heavily. The defence will obviously be led by Koulibaly, who will be supported by Sabaly, Diallo and Jakobs.
The prediction
There should be no shortage of goals in this round of 16 tie between two teams who have scored a combined 14 times in their respective groups. Senegal will prove to be a tough opponent for an England side still too inconsistent and with a few flaws to iron out, but the English side’s passage to the round does not seem to be in doubt. There are likely to be at least three goals in total, and the odds are also very high that they will both find the way of goal.
England vs Senegal line-ups
- INGHILTERRA (4-3-3): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Henderson, Bellingham; Rashford, Kane, Foden.
- SENEGAL (4-3-3): E. Mendy; Sabaly, Koulibaly, Diallo, Jakobs; P. Gueye, N. Mendy, Ciss; Ndiaye, Dia, Sarr.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-1
