3.
20:05
Jude Bellingham and Jordan Henderson play as double eights in the first few minutes in front of Declan Rice, who acts centrally in front of the defence.
1.
20:00
Wales toasts the Battle of Britain is on!
19:57
The teams have just taken the field and both national anthems have already echoed through the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium. It can start right away!
19:35
After the final games in Group A came to an end in the early evening, the opponents in Group B’s round of 16 have already been determined: The Netherlands were able to secure an unchallenged victory against hosts Qatar and, as group winners, meet the runners-up in Group B on Saturday, and also scored Senegal narrowly defeated Ecuador and expects the winner of Group B on Sunday.
19:24
Gareth Southgate, on the other hand, even makes four changes compared to the rather weak performance against the USA: With Bukayo Saka, Mason Mount and Raheem Sterling, he completely removes the offensive three-man line behind Harry Kane and replaces them with Phil Foden, Marcus Rashford and Jordan Henderson. Also, Kyle Walker starts at right-back for Kieran Trippier, who is only on the bench.
19:21
A look at the squad reveals three changes in Robert Page’s team: the red-suspended goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey was replaced by Leicester City’s Danny Ward, while Joe Allen and Dan James started in place of Connor Roberts and Harry Wilson, both on the bench take a seat
19:16
A prerequisite for the Welsh side to progress would be a draw in the parallel game between Iran and the USA and their own victory over England. Should the game against England be won by at least four goals, Gareth Southgate’s team would even be overtaken and would therefore not be dependent on the result in the parallel game. The Welsh’s runaway victory, which is classified as rather unlikely, would also be the only possible scenario in which England could still miss the round of 16.
19:08
The starting position of both teams could hardly be more different: While the English, with their captain Harry Kane, who got fit in time but is still goalless, are relatively comfortable in first place in Group B with four points, the Welsh, with superstar Gareth Bale, have only been able to get one point from the top both games against the USA and Iran and are consequently in fourth place.
19:03
Welcome to the intra-British duel between England and Wales, in which nothing less than a place in the last 16 of the World Cup is at stake. The game kicks off at 20:00 at Ahmed bin Ali Stadium in Al-Rayyan.