England is set to play its first knockout match against an African country since Italy. Cameroon quarter-final thriller in 1990
The semi-finalists for 2018. England was unbeaten in Group B, scoring nine goals.
Senegal is aiming to match its quarter-final performance from 2002.
In the last eight, the winner will face either defending champions France or Poland.
First game against Iran
England scored six goals in their first game against Iran, with Jude Bellingham’s 35th-minute strike kicking off the scoring. Despite this, manager Gareth Southgate admitted he was “grumpy” after his team conceded two second-half goals.
The 2018 semi-finalists tightened the screws on the United States. Their increased defensive awareness, however, came at a cost, as England created little and lacked spark in a 0-0 draw. In the final group game, England dominated Wales 3-0 to generate momentum and confidence for the knockout stages.
Senegal, too, arrives in the last 16 with a high self-esteem. Aliou Cisse’s team was defeated by the Netherlands in their first game after conceding two late goals. Their dissatisfaction was exacerbated by the absence of star forward Sadio Mane, who was recovering at home from an injury, and the African team faced a difficult task to advance from the group.
They rose to the occasion admirably, defeating Qatar 3-1 before edging a winner-take-all clash with impressive Ecuador to advance to Senegal’s second Round of 16 appearance.
Time and date
Sunday, December 4, 22:00 p.m. local time
What to look out for
Get your local TV and streaming information for the game here.
Alternatively, you can keep up with all games on our Live Blog.
Location: Khalifa International Stadium
The Al Bayt Stadium
News from the team
In Qatar, England has been fortunate in terms of injuries and suspensions. James Maddison missed the first two games but is back in full training, and Harry Kane recovered quickly from an ankle injury suffered against Iran.
The only absentee is Arsenal defender Ben White, who has returned home for personal reasons. England also went through their three group games without receiving a booking.
Idrissa Gana Gueye, on the other hand, was cautioned twice in the first half, and the Everton player’s absence is a body blow for Cisse. Cheikhou Kouyate, who was carried off on a stretcher in the first game against the Netherlands after injuring his ankle, is another midfielder the coach is likely to be without.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Pape Matar Sarr and Porto’s Mamadou Loum, who is on loan with Reading in the English Championship, are vying to replace the experienced Gana Gueye.
England’s possible starting lineups are as follows: Jordan Pickford; Kyle Walker, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw; Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Mason Mount; Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane, and Bukayo Saka.
None are suspended.
If booked, no one misses the next game.
Senegal: Youssouf Sabaly, Kalidou Koulibaly, Abdou Diallo, Ismail Jakobs; Pathe Ciss, Pape Gueye; Pape Matar Sarr, Iliman Ndiaye, Ismaila Sarr; Boulaye Dia.
Head-to-head
This is the first meeting of the teams.
Key figures
England has won five of their seven Round of 16 World Cup matches.
Additionally, England is unbeaten in seven World Cup games against African countries (W4 D3).
And England has kept two consecutive World Cup clean sheets. They last kept three consecutive clean sheets in the finals in 2002.
England became the seventh team in FIFA World Cup history to score 100 goals against Wales. Brazil, Germany, Italy, Argentina, France, and Spain are the other six countries.
Senegal has failed to keep a clean sheet in their last ten FIFA World Cup games.
Key figures
England has won five of their seven Round of 16 World Cup matches.
Also England is unbeaten in seven World Cup games against African countries (W4 D3).
And England has kept two consecutive World Cup clean sheets. They last kept three consecutive clean sheets in the finals in 2002.
England became the seventh team in FIFA World Cup history to score 100 goals against Wales. Brazil, Germany, Italy, Argentina, France, and Spain are the other six countries.
Senegal has failed to keep a clean sheet in their last ten FIFA World Cup games.
Senegal has three wins, one draw, and two losses in six World Cup matches against European opponents.
Senegal’s only previous World Cup round of 16 match was a 2-1 extra-time victory over Sweden in 2002.
Key quotes from England manager Gareth Southgate:
“We know we’ll be favourites in the rankings – we’ve got to deal with that – but they’re a very dangerous team.” The big deal begins now.”
“This will be a new stage for us,” says Senegal coach Aliou Cisse.
We know we’re moving on to the knockout stages, which will be very different from how we’ve been playing in these types of (group) matches.
