England v Senegal: Three Lions favourites to reach quarter-finals
England v Senegal: Three Lions favourites to reach quarter-finals
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World Cup 2022: England v Senegal betting tips and odds
England hope to book their place in the World Cup quarter-finals on Sunday when they take on Senegal in the round of 16.
Marcus Rashford’s double either side of a back-post finish from Phil Foden sealed a 3-0 win against Wales and top spot in Group B with seven points and nine goals scored.
It’s been hit and miss for England during the group stage which started with a rampant 6-2 victory over Iran, but the poor form which saw them relegated from the top tier of the Nations League returned in a goalless draw with the USA, who proved tough to break down and almost took the lead when Christian Pulisic struck the crossbar.
Southgate made four changes for Tuesday’s Battle of Britain which saw Rashford and Foden grab their opportunities with both hands, so the England head coach has a dilemma regarding team selection, but at least he has choices from a position of strength rather than weakness.
There were doubts surrounding England’s defence in the build-up to the tournament, but despite conceding twice against Iran they have kept back-to-back clean sheets marshalled by John Stones and Harry Maguire, who was the Three Lions’ best player against the USA.
Senegal are making only their third appearance at the World Cup finals, reaching the quarter-finals on their 2002 debut and eliminated from the group stage in Russia, but they headed to the Middle East in good form, although encouragingly from England’s perspective they drew 1-1 with Iran in an international friendly in September when Sadio Mane was in the starting line-up.
They were crowned Africa Cup of Nations champions in February, but their build-up was marred by Mane being ruled out of the tournament with a knee injury which required surgery.
In his absence they have done well to come through the group stage, although they conceded in every match, including a 3-1 win against Qatar which was the World Cup hosts’ only goal of the tournament.
The Dutch found the Lions of Teranga tough to penetrate and it took until the 84th minute for Cody Gakpo to finally open the scoring, with Davy Klaassen adding a second deep into stoppage time.
Aside from England’s win against Iran, the 2018 World Cup semi-finalists struggled to impose themselves on their opponents in the first half, with their last two group games 0-0 at the break.
England are facing Senegal for the first time and have never lost to an African team at the World Cup in seven previous matches, although they went close at Italia ‘90 when Gary Lineker scored a penalty seven minutes from time to draw level with Cameroon to take the game into extra time during which he struck from the spot again to send his side into the semi-finals.
The Three Lions’ last match against an African team came at the 2018 World Cup when Harry Kane struck in stoppage time to post a 2-1 win against Tunisia.
England v Senegal team news
Arsenal defender Ben White has left the England camp to deal with a personal matter and is not expected to return, although he has not played a single minute at the World Cup.
Kyle Walker played the first hour of England’s victory against Wales after recovering from a groin injury and Southgate also gave some valuable game time to second-half substitutes Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kalvin Phillips and Callum Wilson, who came on for captain Kane.
The England captain has not been at his best in Qatar and has yet to open account, but that has not stopped the floodgates opening in the first and third games.
Kane is almost certain to start against Senegal, but Southgate must decide whether to stick with a winning formula and go with Rashford and Foden instead of either Bukayo Saka, Mason Mount or Raheem Sterling.
Jude Bellingham played in an advanced role in a 4-2-3-1 formation, playing just behind Kane, but may drop into a holding midfield role alongside Declan Rice against Senegal.
Senegal are also likely to play in a 4-2-3-1 system but will be without key midfielder Idrissa Gueye, who picked up his second yellow card of the tournament against Ecuador and is suspended.
Goalscorer odds
Kane continues to dominate the goalscorer markets despite going through the group stage without finding the net, although his three assists have proved invaluable.
With the Three Lions having scored nine times, there are plenty of candidates to strike against the Senegalese, with Rashford – 12/1 in the World Cup top scorer odds – 7/2 and 13/8 in the two markets in our England v Senegal betting tips, although his place in the starting line-up is not certain.
Saka scored twice against Iran, but was rested for the Wales game and is 5/1 and 9/4 in the two markets, the same odds as Foden.
Raheem Sterling was also given the night off on Tuesday and is 9/2 and 21/10 in the two options, while Bellingham is 10/1 and 9/2 having played behind Kane against the Dragons instead of his usual holding midfield role.
Senegal have spread their five goals throughout the team, but Boulaye Dia and Famara Diedhiou are the 10/1 favourites to draw first blood or 4/1 and 9/2 respectively to get on the scoresheet.
Ismaila Sarr, whose penalty put Senegal in front against Ecuador, is 11/1 and 9/2.
