England roaring again and will not fear anyone as Gareth Southgate gets World Cup calls right

England are safely through to the World Cup knockout stages (Picture: Getty)

Eighteen brilliant minutes saw England comfortably into the World Cup’s last 16 in Qatar as Wales were blown away by the recalled Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden.

The pair were involved in all three goals as the Three Lions won 3-0 in Doha to book a last-16 clash against Senegal, the runners-up in Group A.

Foden, who manager Gareth Southgate said he was protecting from the expectation on him, was one of four changes to the team that drew 0-0 with the USA. Rashford, Kyle Walker and Jordan Henderson also started.

And after a dull first 45 minutes very emphatically failed to live up to the a match dubbed the ‘Battle of Britain’, England’s attackers turned it on.

Their only chance in the first period had seen Wales goalkeeper Danny Ward dash out to deny Rashford but the Manchester United had his eye in.

Five minutes after the break, Foden was fouled on the edge of the box and Rashford stepped up to whip in a superb free-kick to break Wales’ hearts.

Rob Page’s men had already lost star man Gareth Bale to injury at half-time and any hopes they had of prolonging their first World Cup campaign in 64 years seemed to vanish with him.

Ninety-eight seconds after the opener, England established a two-goal lead. Harry Kane got down the right and crossed low for Foden to tap in at the far post, vindicating Southgate’s faith in him.

The game was done and dusted in the 68th minute when substitute Kalvin Phillips’ searching pass found Rashford and he cut in from the eight before firing home through Ward’s legs.

Contest over, Southgate utilised his full quota of subs, giving run-outs to Callum Wilson, Kieran Trippier, Jack Grealish and Trent Alexander-Arnold as well as Phillips. Class told in the end and England could have had more goals but the job was done.

Once again, Southgate has to take the credit for picking the right team. Rashford and Foden were the correct calls and fans chanted the manager’s name.

Like singer Chesney Hawkes, source of the half-time entertainment at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Southgate is not always fashionable but remains mostly quite popular.

For Wales, Bale returned on the pitch at full-time to applaud his team’s supporters, but was it a farewell in the red of his country? In the end, 18 good minutes was all it took for England to get past their neighbours.

Gareth Southgate deserves credit for his team selection (Picture: Getty)

It will need more complete performances for them to make a real impression on this tournament but Southgate’s attacking options are so great they cannot be written off as contenders.

England have never met Senegal – their next opponents on Sunday. The Three Lions are roaring again and will not fear anyone if they can utilise their attacking options as well as this.

England are Group B winners, Southgate is still the one but Rashford and Foden are, for now at least, the two.

MORE : England fans celebrate across the UK after huge victory over Wales

MORE : Marcus Rashford sends warning to England’s World Cup rivals

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The Three Lions cannot be written off.