England are in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The “Three Lions” defeated Senegal 3-0 (2-0) on Sunday (December 4th, 2022) and can therefore continue to dream of winning the first title since 1966. Jordan Henderson (39th), Harry Kane (45th + 2nd) and Bukayo Saka (57th) ensured clear conditions and gave many football fans a dream quarter-finals. England’s opponent in the next round is France.
England manager Gareth Southgate made one change from the starting XI in the 3-0 win over Wales. Double goalscorer Marcus Rashford had to take a surprising seat on the bench, with Saka starting in his place. Raheem Sterling was not in the squad for personal reasons.
At Senegal both Gueyes were missing with playmaker Idrissa (suspended) and clearer Papa (bench). Instead, Leicester City’s Nampalys Mendy and Monegasse’s Krépin Diatta joined the starting line-up. Two old acquaintances from the Bundesliga played in the back four, Abdou Diallo from RB Leipzig and former Cologne player Ismail Jakobs.
Lions initially without a bite on both sides
The story of the first half is quickly told: The European runners-up from Great Britain took the initiative and gained almost 70 percent possession of the ball. The African champions from Senegal withdrew and waited for a counterattack. An attractive game did not develop at first. The “Three Lions” played more often across than forward, the “Lions of Teranga” made the spaces narrow. A lot of fight, a lot of cramp, few goal area scenes.
Significant: Senegal’s best chances, for a long time the best in the first 45 minutes, came about after bad passes. First Harry Maguire initiated an opportunity from Ismaili Sarr (23′), then Boulaye Dia benefited from Saka losing the ball (32′). The Senegalese dared to come out from under cover as the game wore on, but they got a cold shower late in the first half.
Henderson and Kane score before half-time
The English, who up to that point had not made any offensive appearances, managed to pick up the tempo exactly twice and rewarded two fine attacks with two goals. After a combination via Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, Henderson scored the lead, then in injury time a counterattack via Bellingham and Foden led to Kane’s first goal of the tournament and the preliminary decision.
Bukayo closes the saka
After the change of sides, Senegal’s coach Aliou Cissé tried to set the tone again with a three-pointer substitution. After initial difficulties, however, the English got on better and better and made perfect use of the space on offer. Kane first tested Senegal’s keeper Edouard Mendy with a powerful long-range shot (56′), then Saka made everything clear after a nice pass from Foden (57′). Of four English shots on goal, three went into goal. This is how efficiency works.
In the period that followed, the English largely limited themselves to securing their lead, while sparing their strength a little. With the substitutions of Rashford and Jack Grealish, coach Southgate flexed his muscles again and showed how strong this English squad is in width. However, the spectators in the Al-Bayt Stadium did not see any offensive actions worth mentioning.
England is France’s nemesis
In the quarter-finals there is now a duel with top favorite France – and at least the history clearly speaks for England. The two previous World Cup duels between the two top European teams (1966 and 1982) were won by the “Three Lions”. However, the fact that Germany was later in the final of both tournaments shows that history does not always repeat itself.