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England 3-0 Senegal LIVE! World Cup 2022 result, match stream, latest reaction and updates today

England 3-0 Senegal LIVE! World Cup 2022 result, match stream, latest reaction and updates today

England vs Senegal - LIVE!

Free-scoring England extended their unbeaten record against African teams with a 3-0 victory over Senegal on which included a first goal at this World Cup from captain Harry Kane as they set up a quarter-final clash with holders France.

England had initially looked sluggish against Senegal’s pacy forwards, in the two nations’ first ever encounter, with a wonderful one-handed save by Jordan Pickford stopping Boulaye Dia from giving the African side a shock lead. But Jordan Henderson settled England’s nerves in the 38th minute, stroking the ball home after being played in by Jude Bellingham at the end of a lovely passing move.

Kane struck a ferocious shot past goalkeeper Edouard Mendy with the last kick of the first half, leaving him one goal behind Wayne Rooney’s record of 53 goals for England. Bukayo Saka bagged the third with a neat chip over Mendy after a cross by Phil Foden in the 57th minute. England’s goalfest in Qatar - 12 so far - equals their previous best World Cup total at Russia 2018 when they made the semi-finals.

England vs Senegal latest news

  • GOAL! Saka puts England in complete control

  • GOAL! Kane doubles lead before half-time

  • GOAL! Henderson sweeps England in front

  • Raheem Sterling to return home after armed robbery

England 3 - 0 Senegal

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22:09 , Matt Verri

England set up a World Cup quarter-final against France with a 3-0 win over Senegal, illuminated by the prodigal Jude Bellingham.

Jordan Henderson, Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka got the goals but for many England supporters, neutrals and perhaps the rest of Gareth Southgate’s squad too, this night will surely be remembered as the Bellingham game.

The midfielder has been making waves in Germany for Borussia Dortmund for the past two-and-a-half seasons but until this World Cup, Premier League-centric England fans would have only heard about his brilliance and seen brief glimpses of his quality in the Champions League or internationals.

Now, everyone is seeing just how talented he is first-hand, and this felt like a coming of age performance in an England shirt for the 19-year-old.

Read Dan Kilpatrick’s full analysis here!

 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Saka’s post-match thoughts

21:44 , Matt Verri

Update on Sterling situation

21:27 , Matt Verri

Gareth Southgate has given this update on Raheem Sterling, who will return to the UK after an armed robbery at his home while his family were in.

“We’ve got to wait and see,” Southgate said. “At the moment, clearly the priority is for him to be with his family.

“We’re going to support that, and leave him to have as much time as he needs. He’s going home. At the moment it’s a situation that he needs time with his family to deal with, and I don’t want to put him under any pressure with that.

“Sometimes football isn’t the most important thing, and family should come first.”

Kane proud of England’s mentality

21:25 , Matt Verri

Harry Kane hailed England’s composure on the biggest stage as they cruised past Senegal to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

After a slow start at the Al Bayt Stadium, the Three Lions clicked into gear before the break as Jordan Henderson swept home after great work from Jude Bellingham, before Kane fired past Edouard Mendy for his first goal of the tournament.

Bukayo Saka made sure of the result early in the second-half to ensure it would not turn into a nervy night, and attention now turns to a last-eight clash with defending champions France next weekened.

England went 12 years without a knockout win before their run to the semi-finals in 2018, and Kane believes the current squad have what it takes to go deep again.

“Knockout games are never easy, we’ve shown great maturity through the tournament,” the England captain told ITV.

Read his full comments here

 (AFP via Getty Images)
(AFP via Getty Images)

Foden on Bellingham

21:15 , Matt Verri

“I don’t want to big up Jude Bellingham too much because he’s still young, but he’s one of the most gifted players I’ve ever seen.

“I don’t see a weakness in his game. He’s got everything, and he’s going to be the best midfielder in the world, for sure.”

Player ratings

21:10 , Matt Verri

Jude Bellingham - 10

Jude Bellingham became the youngest player to start a knockout tournament game for England since Wayne Rooney in 2004.

The 19-year-old was a dominant force at the heart of the midfield and has already emerged as England’s most important player.

His sensational surging run down the middle from a corner led to Harry Kane’s goal after sidestepping challenges and playing in Foden to supply for Kane.

He had already set up Jorden Henderson and Saka should have scored from his early cross. Absolutely sensational.

Read our ratings in full here!

 (PA)
(PA)

Saka flying in Qatar!

21:01 , Matt Verri

Nizaar Kinsella at Al Bayt Stadium

20:57 , Matt Verri

England have scored 12 goals in four World Cup. games. It’s the joint most they’ve scored in a single edition of the tournament.

England have more goals than they scored in 1966. I must still say, let the handbrake off, Gareth.

FT: England 3-0 Senegal

20:53 , Matt Verri

England are through to the quarter-finals of the World Cup!

Brilliant from the Three Lions after a slightly shaky start. They cruise into the last-eight, where they will face France.

 (AP)
(AP)

20:51 , Matt Verri

90+3 mins: Dieng fires an effort into the wall from a free-kick, before Senegal win a corner. Shame for them this spell has come when they’re 3-0 down and with 60 seconds remaining.

Kane hammers the corner away.

20:49 , Matt Verri

90+1 mins: Lovely ball from Shaw, stands it up to the back post but Rashford can only fire it into the side-netting on the stretch.

Looks like Rashford will stay on three goals for the tournament, two behind Mbappe.

20:49 , Matt Verri

90 mins: Four minutes added on.

That’s a real throwback, sad to see the end of the four hours added on.

20:45 , Matt Verri

87 mins: Senegal corner, their first of the match. Taken short, eventually comes in but Pickford claims that comfortably.

Hasn’t had much to do, since that first-half save when it was goalless.

20:42 , Matt Verri

84 mins: Decent move from Senegal, worked out to the left.

Whipped into the box, Dier and Maguire both a bit flat-footed but the header is sent over the bar. Pickford not impressed.

20:40 , Matt Verri

82 mins: Final England change. Not Kane. Not Walker. It’s Henderson.

Phillips the man to be brought on for the final ten minutes or so. Would have to say Henderson has more than justified his selection tonight, really strong display.

20:38 , Matt Verri

80 mins: Rashford and Henderson nearly combine to put it on a plate for Kane in the middle, but he can’t get on the end of it as he throws himself at the ball.

England doing a good job of just keeping possession.

20:37 , Matt Verri

79 mins: Henderson pretends he doesn’t know what’s going on as he picks up the ball, just as Senegal are ready to take a free-kick. Not particularly subtle.

Interesting that Southgate hasn’t opted to bring Kane off with this match done. Or Walker, who will be absolutely crucial against Mbappe next weekend.

20:34 , Matt Verri

76 mins: Koulibaly with a very frustrated challenge, just clatters into Kane on the halfway line. England captain in a fair bit of pain after that one.

Yellow card, don’t think we need to worry very much about Senegal suspensions.

Bellingham and Stones are both replaced, Mount and Dier introduced.

20:32 , Matt Verri

73 mins: Shaw and Grealish look to win it back, bit too keen and it’s a free-kick to Senegal 30 yards out. Too far for a shot you’d imagine.

Will be whipped into the box... or not. Sarr with a very optimistic effort that’s sent wide.

20:29 , Matt Verri

70 mins: Henderson looks to beat a couple of men on the right, loses it. England would much rather it was Rashford in that position running with the ball!

20 minutes to go, Senegal need a real Christmas miracle, to put it mildly.

20:25 , Matt Verri

67 mins: Mendy and Rice collide in midfield, free-kick goes England’s way.

Looked like it was going to be a nervy night for much of the first-half, but the Three Lions are absolutely cruising into the quarter-finals now.

20:22 , Matt Verri

64 mins: Senegal look a beaten side now, England controlling possession really well.

Southgate turning to his bench for the first time tonight. Grealish and Rashford look to be the two coming on.

They are indeed - Foden and Saka replaced.

20:19 , Matt Verri

61 mins: Poor challenge from Bellingham as he catches Sabaly, just a warning from the referee.

England still yet to pick up a yellow card in the tournament so far - probably wasn’t far away from getting one there.

Dan Kilpatrick at Al Bayt Stadium

20:17 , Matt Verri

Another quick England burst, another goal as Foden squares to Saka. Once again, Southgate can feel vindicated in his selection decisions.

GOAL! England 3-0 Senegal | Bukayo Saka 57'

20:16 , Matt Verri

THREE FOR ENGLAND!

And that should really be that. Saka has his third of the tournament.

Lovely move down the left, Foden with a brilliant ball into the box and Saka just lifts it perfectly over Mendy.

20:15 , Matt Verri

56 mins: Kane dropping deeper and deeper to get on the ball, nobody going with him either.

Turns, moves towards goal and still the space is there so he goes for goal. 25 yards out, Mendy makes a bit of a mess of it but luckily for him it doesn’t spin too far away.

20:13 , Matt Verri

54 mins: Rice pounces to win the ball back for England, chance to break is there.

Kane opts to go to his right as he plays in Saka, probably the wrong call. Arsenal man forced to go wide and slices the right-footed strike well wide.

20:11 , Matt Verri

53 mins: Dieng very nearly catches Maguire on the ball on the halfway line, would have been through on goal.

Just about runs through to Stones though and he can mop up the danger.

20:08 , Matt Verri

50 mins: Sabaly gets to the byline and cuts it back, headed out to the edge of the box.

Sarr charging onto it, always going to go for goal but it’s scuffed well wide. Never looked like he was going to make decent contact with that.

20:06 , Matt Verri

48 mins: Senegal certainly going to leave themselves a bit exposed at the back as they pile forward.

Saka plays in Henderson, he dinks it into the box but nobody is there at the back post.

Back underway!

20:03 , Matt Verri

Up and running for the second-half.

Just the three changes from Senegal... they’re going to go for it now. Gueye, Dieng and Sarr all introduced.

Nizaar Kinsella at Al Bayt Stadium

19:57 , Matt Verri

Jude Bellingham is the youngest player to start a knockout game for England since Wayne Rooney in 2004. He is having a similar impact within a better team. This could be his tournament, he seems to be one of Gareth Southgate’s most important players already.

A stunning surge to help set up Harry Kane’s goal with Phil Foden also involved.

Just about in time!

19:53 , Matt Verri

Senegal lost the ball on the edge of the England box with the two minutes of added-time played, but the referee opted not to blow the whistle as Bellingham won it and charged forward.

Kane very happy he didn’t!

HT: England 2-0 Senegal

19:50 , Matt Verri

That was the final kick of the half.

Things looking much better now for England than they were for the majority of the opening period.

Henderson and Kane have put the Three Lions in charge at the break.

 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

GOAL! England 2-0 Senegal | Harry Kane 45+3'

19:48 , Matt Verri

ENGLAND DOUBLE THE LEAD!

Final kick of the half and Kane has his goal! Senegal on the attack, lose it and they’re ruthlessly punished.

Bellingham, Foden, Kane... 2-0.

19:45 , Matt Verri

45 mins: England don’t want half-time! Rice charging away down the right wing, low ball into the box as Foden makes the run at the back post. Koulibaly knocks it behind for a corner.

Foden curls it in, Maguire can’t quite get there as Koulibaly nods it away.

Two minutes added on.

Dan Kilpatrick at Al Bayt Stadium

19:43 , Matt Verri

England upped the tempo for the goal and they have maintained that intensity since, as they look for a second before half-time.

A pedestrian game has suddenly come alive and now it’s Senegal struggling to cope.

19:43 , Matt Verri

43 mins: England have woken up since the goal, Saka getting increasingly involved and he’s getting plenty of joy on the right.

Here they come again, Bellingham slides Shaw in on goal. Heavy first touch takes him a bit wide, can’t square it in time as Mendy rushes off his line. Senegal hanging on all of a sudden.

19:41 , Matt Verri

41 mins: Pickford lumps a goal-kick forward, drops for Saka and he gets to the byline.

Low cross perfectly finds Kane, he balloons the effort over the bar as he loses his balance. That was a really decent chance.

GOAL! England 1-0 Senegal | Jordan Henderson 39’

19:39 , Matt Verri

ENGLAND TAKE THE LEAD!

Out of nowhere! Bellingham gets away down the left, cuts it back into the box and Henderson sweeps the first-time finish home.

England badly, badly needed that.

Dan Kilpatrick at Al Bayt Stadium

19:37 , Matt Verri

Ismaïla Sarr should not be playing in the Championship. The Watford forward is causing havoc and no end of problems for England.

19:37 , Matt Verri

37 mins: Sarr skips away from Walker, gets brought down and that will be a free-kick. England full-back very fortunate to avoid a yellow card there, Senegal bench less than impressed.

England look rattled at the moment, nowhere near it in the opening 37 minutes.

19:34 , Matt Verri

34 mins: Senegal not having much of the ball, but when they do it’s high-energy. England meanwhile are playing slow-motion football so far.

Loose pass from Koulibaly, straight out of play. Camera pans to Southgate on the bench, who is looking a little stressed right now.

19:31 , Matt Verri

31 mins: Senegal end up going from just outside the England penalty box all the way back to Mendy in goal, largely due to a one-man press from Henderson.

Crucial save from Pickford! Saka gives it away, Sarr finds Dia and he hammers an effort at goal. Strong hand from Pickford.

19:29 , Matt Verri

29 mins: Long ball out to Walker, he can’t keep it in play though.

Frustrating start for England, having plenty of possession but it’s really just slow passes between the centre-backs. Senegal blocking off any space in midfield.

Dan Kilpatrick at Al Bayt Stadium

19:27 , Matt Verri

Senegal are pressing England’s defenders well, forcing mistakes and that Sarr chance came from a sloppy pass out from Maguire.

It’s a warning for England. The African champions are going to be a tough nut to crack.

19:25 , Matt Verri

26 mins: Maguire again with a poor pass out from the back, doesn’t lead to a counter this time.

England have to be careful, Senegal are just waiting for any sort of loose ball into midfield and then they burst into life.

19:23 , Matt Verri

23 mins: Big chance!

Senegal should really take the lead. Maguire gives it away and England are nearly punished.

First effort from Dia is blocked by Stones, before Sarr lifts his shot over the bar as he beats Pickford to the ball. Real let-off.

19:21 , Matt Verri

21 mins: There is the first shot of the match.

Whipped in to the near post, Stones gets across his man but shoulders it wide. Misjudged the flight of that, was a decent chance.

19:20 , Matt Verri

20 mins: Neither side has had a shot yet, nothing even vaguely in the way of chances at either end of the pitch.

England appealing for a corner, which is a pretty obvious decision, but the officials opt to stare at each other blankly for 20 seconds instead. Eventually the linesman decides to point for the corner.

19:17 , Matt Verri

17 mins: Senegal haven’t had many chances to counter yet, but when they do there is a real threat.

Ndiaye knocks the ball past Maguire and looks to beat him for pace on the outside, the England man just about gets his body in the way to halt the progress.

19:15 , Matt Verri

15 mins: Kane takes a few kicks as he holds the ball up, final one sent him tumbling to the ground. Doesn’t look to have caused any lasting damage though.

He wriggles his way through a challenge again before poking the ball through to Shaw, just too much on it though.

Dan Kilpatrick at Al Bayt Stadium

19:13 , Matt Verri

England have settled nicely and are already having joy down both flanks. Bellingham, Saka and Kane have already got behind the Senegal full-backs with surprising ease, but no-one was on the end of their crosses.

19:12 , Matt Verri

12 mins: Things have slowed down a bit after a slightly frantic start, England passing the ball around at the back and in midfield.

Comes forward now, over the top to Saka. He gets there too, ball into the box is too high for everyone though.

19:09 , Matt Verri

9 mins: Senegal nearly get themselves into a real mess playing out from the back, Saka almost pounces. Just about scrambled away from him. Both sides pressing high and looking to win it back up the pitch.

Bellingham whips a decent cross into the box, Mendy comes and doesn’t really make any contact but there’s nobody behind him in an England shirt.

19:07 , Matt Verri

7 mins: Foden and Bellingham do well under pressure, wriggle their way out of trouble and the Dortmund man wins a free-kick.

Taken short to Walker, he floats it to Rice at the back post. Lofted to the back post where Maguire is waiting, can’t quite direct the header.

Really well-worked move.

19:04 , Matt Verri

4 mins: Early signs are that Henderson is going to play a bit of an advanced role in midfield, freedom to get forward and into the box for England.

The Three Lions lose it, Senegal break through Dia and he charges straight through the defence. Can’t quite get it under control as Maguire pressures him, bobbles through to Pickford. That was a scare for England.

19:02 , Matt Verri

2 mins: Pickford rushed into a clearance in the opening seconds, not the greatest of passes back to him.

Senegal letting Stones and Maguire have the ball, but plenty of green shirts pushing up to block the ball into midfield.

Nizaar Kinsella at Al Bayt Stadium

19:01 , Matt Verri

Quite heartening to see all the substitutes acknowledging the starters ahead of kick-off. Gareth Southgate has spoken about the importance of his ‘finishers’ in matches and they seem a united group.

KICK-OFF!

19:00 , Matt Verri

We’re underway. France waiting in the quarter-finals for whoever comes out on top tonight.

18:58 , Matt Verri

Anthems done, Declan Rice giving it full beans.

Kick-off coming up next - serious business in the World Cup is well and truly here!

Nizaar Kinsella at Al Bayt Stadium

18:55 , Matt Verri

There’s quite a lot of empty seats in here, just five minutes before kick-off. This is the second biggest stadium at 68,000.

Here we go!

18:54 , Matt Verri

Nerves kicked in?

Players are out onto the pitch at the Al Bayt Stadium, led out by Kane and Koulibaly.

Time for the anthems.

Serious talent!

18:50 , Matt Verri

Nizaar Kinsella at Al Bayt Stadium

18:48 , Matt Verri

I have seen Senegal play in a World Cup before and their fans seem as good as ever.

It will be interesting when the match starts to see if England can overpower them in the atmosphere at Al Bayt. We won’t know until someone takes the microphone away from the screeching MC.

Not long now!

18:43 , Matt Verri

Warm-ups nearly done at the Al Bayt Stadium.

So many of the matches at the tournament have been goalless at half-time, before the drama has got going after the break.

Would be no surprise if it was a cagey start to this match, with so much on the line.

 (The FA via Getty Images)
(The FA via Getty Images)

More on Sterling’s absence

18:39 , Matt Verri

The England boss has also addressed Raheem Sterling’s absence, who is not involved tonight as he deals with a “family matter”.

“I had quite a bit of time with him this morning but I have had to pass that on to other people to help him with that,” Southgate said.

Asked whether he will stay with the squad should England progress, Southgate responded: “He is going to go and deal with that matter and then we will have to take it from there really.”

 (The FA via Getty Images)
(The FA via Getty Images)

Southgate explains selection

18:35 , Matt Verri

“[Saka] was excellent in our first two matches.

“We think Marcus was also very good and it’s great to have him to be able to come into the game as it opens up. We’ve of course got an embarrassment of riches in that area of the pitch.

“We’ve liked Bukayo’s performances and we think Phil and him deserve their opportunity.”

Na-na-na-na-na

18:32 , Matt Verri

As we know, all football matches must have Freed From Desire played at least ten times.

We’re up and running at the Al Bayt Stadium....

Atmosphere building!

18:28 , Matt Verri

Diouf in bullish mood

18:23 , Matt Verri

El-Hadji Diouf has told England they will face a France-style upset if they underestimate Senegal.

Senegal legend Diouf was part of the side that famously upset the then world champions France in the opening game of the 2002 World Cup and is now on the country’s coaching staff at this tournament.

Gareth Southgate’s side are favourites to reach the quarter-finals as they take on the African champions, but Diouf says France’s failure two decades ago should serve as a warning.

“It reminds me of when we played against France,” said Diouf. “They thought they’d won the game before they played it. If England do the same thing on Sunday, this is good for us.”

He added: “We are always going to win on penalties. If we get to penalties, we’re going to win it.”

Read his full comments here

 (PA)
(PA)

Southgate: England ready for penalties

18:16 , Matt Verri

Senegal won the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year after a penalty shootout in the final, so would be fairly confident if it went all the way tonight.

Gareth Southgate has insisted England would also have no issues should it go to the spot.

“We’re prepared, we’ve had a process that we’ve followed,” Southgate said at his pre-match press conference.

“We’ve won two of three shootouts and looked at how we can improve. But of course, there are so many other aspects we have to get right.

“We’re aiming to win the game in 90 minutes and to avoid extra time and penalties. But if we need to go beyond that we have to be ready mentally and physically. I believe we are.”

 (PA)
(PA)

Dan Kilpatrick at Al Bayt Stadium

18:10 , Matt Verri

Brazil fancied to go all the way

18:03 , Matt Verri

Nothing like getting carried away with things, so let’s have a look at the latest odds to lift the World Cup.

Brazil lead the way in the market, as they have done for a long, long time, while Argentina and France are also well-fancied.

England would come up against France next should they win tonight...

World Cup winner:

Brazil - 13/5

Argentina - 9/2

France - 5/1

Spain - 6/1

England - 8/1

Portugal - 11/1

Netherlands - 14/1

Odds via Betfair.

 (PA)
(PA)

Questions remain for England

17:58 , Matt Verri

Nobody scored more goals than England in the group stage, nobody got more points... yet there are still questions over the job Southgate is doing.

The goalless draw with the USA was dull and it was a slow start against Wales, but England have still looked pretty comfortable at the back even when their attacking players haven’t been at it.

Knockout football is rarely end-to-end, Southgate will know a solid base is often key to a deep run.

 (REUTERS)
(REUTERS)

Foden and Saka start for England

17:50 , Matt Verri

So Rashford, England’s top scorer in Qatar, does indeed miss out despite that brace against Wales in the last match.

Saka and Foden start either side of Kane, while Henderson gets the nod in midfield over Mount and Walker starts at right-back.

Mendy comes into midfield for Senegal, pressure on him to deliver with Gueye missing out through suspension.

Senegal team news

17:46 , Matt Verri

Senegal XI: Mendy, Sabaly, Koulibaly, Diallo, Jakobs, Ciss, Mendy, Ndiaye, Diatta, Sarr, Dia

England team news

17:43 , Matt Verri

England XI: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Henderson, Bellingham; Saka, Foden, Kane

Senegal’s run to last-16

17:40 , Matt Verri

It was far from the ideal start to the tournament for Senegal, as they were beaten by the Netherlands in their opening match.

A win over Qatar got things back on track, setting up a must-win clash against Ecuador in their final Group A encounter.

Senegal came through that, so this is really their second knockout clash.

 (AP)
(AP)

Sterling will not be involved tonight

17:34 , Matt Verri

Henderson: Senegal a dangerous side

17:30 , Matt Verri

Jordan Henderson is expecting a tough test for England tonight, insisting there is no such thing as an easy match in the knockout stages of a World Cup.

“We know any World Cup game, whether group stage, qualifiers, knockout stages like we are in now, it will be a really tough, especially against a team who are African champions and are a very, very good team in their own right,” Henderson said.

“Yes, we can say they are missing Sadio Mane, who is a huge player for them, and an amazing player for any team really, but they got into the knockout stages without him, and they will be feeling confident and good.

“They are used to winning. They will be a really, really dangerous side for us to play. For us to progress we need to be at 100 per cent, give absolutely everything, and be really good with the ball, and really good without the ball.”

 (The FA via Getty Images)
(The FA via Getty Images)

Penalties not wanted...

17:22 , Matt Verri

Four years ago England went into their last-16 clash against Colombia at the 2018 World Cup as favourites.

It turned into a nervy night, going all the way to penalties before Eric Dier struck the winning-spot kick to send England through.

There’s not the same fear around penalties for the Three Lions now, even if they did fall short against Italy at last summer’s Euros, but the whole country will be very keen to avoid the match tonight going all the way!

 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Cisse ill in build-up

17:14 , Matt Verri

Senegal’s preparations for tonight’s clash have been disrupted by their head coach Aliou Cisse falling ill.

Cisse was unable to take training on Friday, and he also missed Senegal’s pre-match press conference on Saturday.

Senegal assistant Regis Bogaert undertook media duties instead, but he is hopeful Cisse will be in the dugout at the Al Bayt Stadium tonight.

“He (Cisse) has been sick for a couple of days now,” said Bogaert.

“He let us take charge of training yesterday, obviously with his instructions we got across to the players.”

 (REUTERS)
(REUTERS)

France waiting for the winner!

17:05 , Matt Verri

France have beaten Poland 3-1 and are through to the quarter-finals.

The defending champions are looking in ominous form in Qatar, and will face the winner of tonight’s match next. Huge test for either England or Senegal.

Just the five goals and two assists for Kylian Mbappe now...

Kane looking to hit peak in knockouts

16:58 , Matt Verri

England captain Harry Kane says the timing of the World Cup has ensured he feels as fit as he “is ever going to feel” and is confident of hitting top form in the knockouts.

The skipper, who is just two goals shy of Wayne Rooney’s all-time England goal record, was not among England’s six scorers in the group but still played a part with three assists.

Four years ago in Russia, Kane scored five of his six goals en route to the Golden Boot in the first two games but at last summer’s European Championship all four of his goals came in the knockouts.

“It goes back to 2018 and the World Cup,” he said. “I felt like from a physical and mental side of things, I started the tournament great with loads of goals and used a lot of energy.

“As the tournament went on, I felt like my performances dipped in the latter stages. I was conscious before the Euros of trying to make it go the other way.

Obviously I still wanted to start well but I was trying to make sure that physically and mentally I was in the best shape for the knockouts. I’ve carried that into this tournament.”

Read his full comments here

 (The FA via Getty Images)
(The FA via Getty Images)

Update on England’s team selection...

16:49 , Matt Verri

Looks like Marcus Rashford’s brace against Wales will not be enough for him to keep his place in the side.

Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden set to start either side of Harry Kane tonight.

Evening Standard prediction

16:42 , Matt Verri

England will know that they cannot start slowly against Senegal, much like they did against both USA and Wales.

Senegal are by no means pushovers and can take the game to the Three Lions, who must set the tempo and control proceedings. If they can then it should be relatively straightforward - or as straightforward as it can be for England at a tournament.

England to win 2-0.

Senegal team news

16:35 , Matt Verri

Senegal boss Aliou Cisse is unlikely to miss the game despite falling ill over the last few days.

They are also set to still be without Cheikhou Kouyate. Everton midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye is suspended for what would have been his 100th cap. Either Tottenham’s Pape Matar Sarr or Reading’s Mamadou Loum are likely to step in.

Predicted Senegal XI (4-2-3-1): E Mendy; Sabaly, Koulibaly, Diallo, Jakobs; Ciss, P. Gueye; P. Sarr, Ndiaye, I. Sarr; Dia

 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

England team news

16:27 , Matt Verri

Gareth Southgate changed up his midfield and forward line for the match against Wales, with mixed results. While Jordan Henderson looked firmly off the pace, Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden scored the goals.

Southgate must decide whether to stick with three central midfielders or provide more pace up top.

Only Ben White is sure to be absent after leaving the World Cup camp for personal reasons.

Kyle Walker looked good at right-back after returning from injury, so could keep his place despite competition from Kieran Trippier and the unused Trent Alexander-Arnold. Southgate has confirmed his squad is fully fit.

Predicted England XI (4-3-3): Pickford; Trippier, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Bellingham, Henderson; Rashford, Kane, Sterling

 (PA)
(PA)

How to watch England vs Senegal

16:20 , Matt Verri

TV channel: In the UK, the match will be televised free-to-air and live on ITV, with coverage beginning at 6pm.

Live stream: Fans can also catch the game live online via ITVX and ITV website.

Live blog: You can follow all the action right here, with Dan Kilpatrick and Nizaar Kinsella providing expert analysis from Al Bayt Stadium!

Good afternoon!

16:12 , Matt Verri

Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of England vs Senegal!

We’ve got to the serious business in the World Cup, the last-16 now very much up and running, and these two sides are the latest to try and book their place in the quarter-finals.

The Three Lions are certainly favourites to do just that, their comfortable wins over Iran and Wales putting the attacking talent on full display. This is set to be a step up though.

We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news ahead of kick-off, which comes at 7pm GMT from the Al Bayt Stadium.

 (The FA via Getty Images)
(The FA via Getty Images)