England 3-0 Senegal: England are in the quarter-finals with France

England meet France in the World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday after Senegal endured an impressive demolition at Al Bayt Stadium.

Gareth Southgate’s side survived a nervous opening in which goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made an excellent save against Boulaye Dia to use strong attacking power to score a convincing winner.

Jude Bellingham was England’s star, setting up the first goal for Jordan Henderson with a perfect cross after 38 minutes and then scoring the second goal just before half-time, alongside Phil Foden as captain Harry Kane scored his first goal of the competition.

That left Kane just one short of Wayne Rooney’s record 53 goals for England and now he has the perfect stage here in Qatar to write a new page in the history books.

Foden was the creator once more as England ended the game in the 57th minute and Bukayo crossed over Saka to show great attention and touch to blast a fine finish past Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

It capped the perfect night for manager Southgate, who opted to restore Saka and remain loyal to Foden, missing Marcus Rashford despite his two goals in the Wales win. Raheem Sterling was not included after a break-in at his parents’ house and will now return to England.

England’s World Cup is taking shape

It took England a while to get through to Senegal but when it clicked they showed a level of creativity that gives them a real advantage and makes them real contenders for this World Cup.

The first concerns came as Senegal tried to uncover Harry Maguire’s lack of pace, which they did twice and are noticed by France and Kylian Mbappe, but once Bellingham exercised his authority in midfield England were able to take control and cruise to victory.

The 19-year-old from Borussia Dortmund has already had a stellar World Cup but now he has power and performance on the biggest stage to elevate his reputation.

Bellingham is the perfect modern midfielder and the way he provided England’s second goal with Foden, rounded off by a rousing finish from Kane, was a glimpse into a golden future.

Foden has also grown into this World Cup, having scored against Wales and scored twice here. England’s midfield and attack are taking shape, with perfect timing for the toughest tests against France and the incomparable Mbappe.

Henderson and Declan Rice see Bellingham flourish while Saka, along with Foden, once again showed his maturity and threat from the wide positions.

Kane is the agile spearhead on offense and it bodes well for England that he is now in the goal lane chasing Rooney’s record. Occasionally he has to play his way into big tournaments, like Euro 2020, and Southgate will have been delighted to see how vigorously he capitalized on his chance for the second goal.

Pickford’s crucial contribution

Pickford had little to do at this World Cup, but when he came into play he made a key intervention against Senegal that paved the way for England to pull themselves together and win with ease.

England struggled defensively in the opening stages and Dia missed a huge chance before being presented with another that required Pickford to make a powerful one-handed stop from his deflected shot.

Senegal soon fell behind and England had the momentum they never threatened to give up, and Southgate’s side finished victorious with plenty in reserve after an uneventful second half.

Pickford’s place in the England side has occasionally been challenged from the outside but never by Southgate, who has every faith in a player who has never failed him.

player of the game

BellinghamJude Bellingham

lineups

England

formation 4-3-3

1Pickford

2walker5stones6Maguire3show

8thHenderson4rice22Bellingham

17Of9Kane20The foot

• 1Pickford
• 2walker
• 5stonesReplaced bydierat 77′protocol
• 6Maguire
• 3show
• 8thHendersonReplaced byPhillipsat 82′protocol
• 4rice
• 22BellinghamReplaced bymountat 76′protocol
• 17OfReplaced byRaschfordat 65′protocol
• 9Kane
• 20The footReplaced byGreyishat 65′protocol

substitute

• 7Greyish
• 11Raschford
• 12trippier
• 13pope
• 14Phillips
• fifteendier
• 16coady
• 18Alexander Arnold
• 19mount
• 23Ramsdale
• 24Wilson
• 25maddison
• 26Gallagher

Senegal

formation 4-2-3-1

16mendy

21Sabaly3Koulibaly22dialo14Jacobs

11ciss6mendy

fifteendiatta13I go18Sarr

9Yes

• 16mendy
• 21Sabaly
• 3KoulibalyBooked at 76 minutes
• 22dialo
• 14JacobsReplaced byBallo tourat 84′protocol
• 11cissReplaced byGuyeeat 45′protocol
• 6mendy
• fifteendiattaReplaced bySarrat 45′protocol
• 13I goReplaced byserviceat 45′protocol
• 18Sarr
• 9YesReplaced byDiedhiouat 72′protocol

substitute

• 1service
• 2mendy
• 4Cisse
• 7Jackson
• 10N’Diaye
• 12Ballo tour
• 17Sarr
• 19Diedhiou
• 20service
• 23gomi
• 24Surname
• 25Noisy
• 26Guyee

Referee: Ivan Arcides Barton Cisneros

Number of visitors: 65,985

live text

1. Game ends, England 3, Senegal 0.

2. End of the second half, England 3, Senegal 0.

3. Corner, Senegal. Goal conceded by Kyle Walker.

4. Corner, Senegal. Cashed in by Luke Shaw.

5. attempt blocked. Bamba Dieng (Senegal) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

6. Foul by Declan Rice (England).

7. Bamba Dieng (Senegal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

8. attempt failed. Marcus Rashford (England) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Luke Shaw with a cross.

9. attempt failed. Pape Sarr (Senegal) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide on the right. Assisted by Famara Diedhiou.

10. Foul by Mason Mount (England).

11. Youssouf Sabaly (Senegal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

12. Corner, Senegal. Collected from Harry Maguire.

13. attempt blocked. Pape Gueye (Senegal) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Youssouf Sabaly.

14. Foul by Mason Mount (England).

15. Pape Gueye (Senegal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

16. Substitution, Senegal. Fodé Ballo-Touré replaces Ismail Jakobs.

17. attempt failed. Ismaïla Sarr (Senegal) header from the center of the box is too high. Assisted by Ismail Jakobs with a cross.

18. Foul by Kyle Walker (England).

19. Ismaïla Sarr (Senegal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

20. Substitution England. Kalvin Phillips replaces Jordan Henderson.