PREVIEW: FIFA World Cup Last 16 - England vs Senegal

FIFA 2022 World Cup

Last 16: England vs Senegal

04 December 2022

Al Bayt stadium, Al Khor

KO- 21:00 (SA Time)

Match Preview:

As England and Senegal head into this 2022 FIFA World Cup round of 16 clash - a first-ever meeting between these two nations - there is an uncomfortable stat that needs attention. England have not lost in seven meetings in the World Cup against African opposition, and they conceded only three goals in two matches while keeping five clean sheets in those games.

Having topped Group B and won two matches with convincing scorelines, the Three Lions’ attack has looked deadly in this tournament barring the second game against the USA which ended goalless.

But they are up against the African champions in Senegal and despite coming to this tournament without injured talisman Sadio Mane, they have shown quality by bouncing back from an opening loss to the Netherlands to win their matches against hosts Qatar and Ecuador.

20 years ago current coach Aliou Cisse captained a Senegal team that shocked then-defending champions France beating them 1-0 in the opening game.  Cisse has a track record and the know-how of reaching a World Cup last-eight.

Team News:

England

Despite England's nine goals, captain Harry Kane has yet to score in this World Cup. However, he reminded everyone that Qatar 2022 is not about him but about the entire team.

Kane, who was the top goalscorer in Russia 2018 with six goals, has been troubled by a niggling injury in this tournament.

“As always, I'm a calm individual and I always try and focus on the team and doing my best for the team and I feel like I can do that in many ways, as I've said before. So I'll continue to try and do that.

If the goals come, then great. It means that it will give us a better chance of winning the game and as a striker, I always want to be scoring goals for sure. So, we'd love to see how the game goes tomorrow. It's going to be a really tough game, but I hope to get off the mark”,  he told reporters.

Senegal

The Lions of Teranga have big decisions to make in the midfield. They are missing the  influential Idrissa Gana Gueye who plays in the English Premier League for  Everton. He is suspended after two yellow cards in the group stages.

Gueye’s suspension comes at a difficult time, with the veteran midfield, powerhouse Cheikhou Kouyate yet to return to training after getting injured in the opening game against the Dutch.

Coach Cisse sat out the mandatory match day training session and media duties yesterday. His assistant Regis Boagaert revealed he’s not been well.

"Yes, the coach has been sick for two days. Yesterday, he let us take charge of training with the instructions and decisions he made. This afternoon, we hope that he will be able to come but we are not certain, however, we are certain that tomorrow evening at 10 pm it will be him who will lead the team", he said.

Players to watch

Marcus Rashford

Age: 25

Club: Manchester United (England)   

With already three goals in this tournament, and tied with four other players on top of the goal-scoring charts, England and Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford appears to have found his rhythm at the right time.

Following a frustrating first half against Wales in the last group game, Rashford came back to smash a brilliant free-kick in the second, which was the first goal from a free-kick in this tournament. It was also the first time coach Gareth Southgate had given Rashford a starting berth in this World Cup and he would be looking at continuing with that momentum.

Bafana Bafana’s all-time leading goal scorer Benni McCarthy would also be equally happy to see a player he trains regularly, as a strikers’ coach at the Red Devils, continuing to play a prominent role in this Three Lions squad.

Kalidou Koulibaly

Age: 31

Club: Chelsea (England)

Born in France to Senegalese parents, Kalidou Koulibaly should have a strong interest in leading the Lions of Teranga past England and possibly meet the country of his birth in the last eight, should they beat Poland in the other last clash.

Capped at the U20 international level by France, Koulibaly made the switch to play for Senegal in 2015, and this coincided with the promotion of Cisse from U23s to the senior team. They have not looked back ever since.

A man mountain and no-nonsense towering centre-back, after spending close to a decade in the Serie A with Napoli, he finally made a move this summer joining Chelsea in the English Premier League.

Having led the Teranga Lions to a maiden Afcon title earlier this year in Cameroon, Captain Koulibaly possesses the kind of confidence that can take the highest-ranked African nation to the last eight and beyond.