With their 3-0 victory over Senegal, England now face arguably their most difficult challenge yet in France on December 10 for a place in the semifinals.
England score THREE to move on to the Quarter Finals!#FIFAWorldCup | #Qatar2022
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 4, 2022
England have demonstrated their ability to find the goal, having knocked in 12 from eight different players.
France, however, are the reigning world champions with the depth, experience and firepower to take down any side.
Senegal, who now exit the tournament, should not be too dismayed with the result having already lost a few key players in Sadio Mane (injury) and Idrissa Gueye (suspension).
Jordan Henderson struck for England lead after Senegal created initial openings.Harry Kane closed on Three Lions scoring record with team’s second.Bukayo Saka netted his third goal in Qatar to secure quarter-final berth.
Job done! ✅
The #ThreeLions progress to the quarter-finals of the @FIFAWorldCup. pic.twitter.com/9rnycoSSAZ
— England (@England) December 4, 2022
England set up a humdinger of a FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarter-final tie against defending champions France with a convincing victory over Senegal.
England have scored 12 goals in four matches at this year’s FIFA World Cup – the Three Lions’ joint-most at a single major tournament (World Cup and Euros), level with their 12 goals at the 2018 World Cup.
Gareth Southgate’s side didn’t have everything their own way in a tense opening half hour at Al Bayt Stadium. Jordan Pickford rushed out to force Ismaila Sarr to scoop over the bar from point-blank range after 22 minutes. And 10 minutes later, Sarr cleverly played in Boulaye Dia for a fizzing shot that goalkeeper Pickford met with a strong left hand.
England were laboured in that opening period – but Jude Bellingham and Jordan Henderson combined to flick a switch on a performance that was suddenly filled with confidence and vitality. When England broke down the left, teenager Bellingham took charge to send in a low cross. Fellow midfielder Henderson, surging into the box, steered an accomplished finish beyond Edouard Mendy.
Jordan Henderson, at 32 years and 170 days, is England’s second-oldest scorer at the FIFA World Cup. He’ll have to stick around for the 2030 edition to eclipse Tom Finney, who scored against Soviet Union, aged 36 years and 64 days, in 1958.
Jude Bellingham is the first player to score a goal and provide an assist at a World Cup before turning 20 years old since Lionel Messi in 2006 .
Aged 19 years and 158 days, Jude Bellingham became the youngest player to assist in a World Cup game for England (since 1966).
Mendy was beaten again in the third minute of first-half time added on. And Bellingham was instrumental once more. The Borussia Dortmund player stole possession in his own half and burst upfield to feed Phil Foden. His first-time pass was perfectly timed and executed, feeding the fast-arriving Kane to put his laces through the ball and score his first goal of the tournament.
Harry Kane has now scored 11 goals at major tournaments for England (7 World Cup, 4 Euros), overtaking Gary Lineker (10) as the Three Lions’ all-time top scorer in such competitions.
Any faint hopes of a Senegal fightback were extinguished 12 minutes after the break. England served notice they weren’t settling for 2-0 when Mendy kept his eye on a shot from Kane that viciously dipped as it reached the keeper. But Mendy was helpless 60 seconds later.
The impish Foden dodged a tackle to advance and squeeze a left-wing cross through Kalidou Koulibaly. Saka, who struck a double in England’s opening game, met the delivery with a deft chip over the grounded goalkeeper to set up his team’s first World Cup meeting with France since 1982.
Phil Foden (22y 190d) is the youngest player to make two assists in a FIFA World Cup knockout stage game since Ronaldo for Brazil in 1998 (21y 284d v Denmark).
🗣️ "A brilliant game for us to be involved with and test ourselves against the very best"
Gareth Southgate looks ahead to England's World Cup quarter-final tie against France 🏴🇫🇷🏆 pic.twitter.com/qD27ccia1R
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 4, 2022
🗣️ "The biggest thing is the mentality"
England manager Gareth Southgate was full of praise for midfielder Jude Bellingham after his performance against Senegal. pic.twitter.com/5coEaVRVrO
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 4, 2022
England coach Gareth Southgate said, “Every match you play is a different challenge, with tactical problems to resolve We have stepped up and are answering those questions. The quality of the moves for our goals was outstanding and the finishes were absolutely ruthless.
“This [France quarter-final] is the acid test for us. We know it is a step up but we are a team that has garnered so much experience, we look threatening and are scoring goals.”
England forward Phil Foden: said ,”We are going to celebrate tonight but it is knockout football now so we will have to recover and then think about the next opponent. Senegal went man-to-man and were very physical but it was about biding our time and keeping the ball moving more.
“I don’t want to big him [Bellingham] up too much because he is still young but he’s one of the most gifted players I have ever seen. He has no weakness in his game. I think he will be the best midfielder in the world. “They [France] look like the strongest in the competition up to now. We back ourselves every day and we are confident.”
On the scoresheet and into the next round 🏴 #Budweiser Player of the Match, Harry Kane singled out the performances of Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham as @England progressed to set up a huge Quarter-Final clash with France.
🇸🇳 #SENENG 🏴 #POTM #YoursToTake #BringHomeTheBud pic.twitter.com/4cBbCnpeGo
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 5, 2022
Player of the Match:Harry Kane
Bengali