England face Senegal in today’s game at Al Bayt Stadium as both teams battle it out for a place in the quarter-finals. 

England topped Group B – having won two games and drew with the USA, and go into the last 16 as the technically strongest team out of all the teams. 

Senegal made it through after a vital intervention from their captain to see the two teams face each other for the very first time. 

Qatar World Cup 2022 England take on Senegal – Match preview

England’s World Cup campaign got off to a great start with a 6-2 win over Iran, but a stale and boring 0-0 draw against the USA had fans worried England would fall back into old patterns. But the Three Lions defied their doubters in their final group match – against fellow home nation Wales – by showing off just how much talent England has both on the pitch and on the benches. 

England’s success in this World Cup will come down to Gareth Southgate getting the calls right on who to play and when.

England reached the World Cup semi-finals in 2018 and fell just short during the last Euros – making the finals but losing on penalties to Italy. This year, though England have a tough path to glory, they still have a serious shot at winning the World Cup. 

England must beat Senegal – Group A runners-up on Sunday to progress to the quarters. England have yet to lose in 20 matches against African opposition, so Southgate’s current team remain the favourites to progress. 

England has plenty of tournament experience and will head into the last 16 full of confidence. 

Senegal – African champions – will have confidence too, they also have nothing to lose. 

They beat Ecuador in a winner-takes-all contest, and are indebted to captain Kalidou Koulibaly for his 70th-minute winner at Khalifa International Stadium on Tuesday.

Senegal are without football superstar Sadio Mane who was ruled out of the World Cup with an injury. But the team has a spirited and tactically aware squad and the bulk of the team were part of the group that lifted the Africa Cup of Nations trophy in February.

African teams have lost eight of nine World Cup knockout matches against European opponents to date – the only exception is a Senegalese win over Sweden. And if it comes down to penalties on Sunday night – Senegal may beat out England as the two teams have a very different track record on spot kicks. 

England team news 

England boss Gareth Southgate has a selection headache ahead of him. He’ll be grateful that Kyle Walker, Phil Foden, Jordan Henderson and Marcus Rashford repaid his faith for putting them in the starting XI against Wales but the England squad has so much talent on and off the benches – where does he start? 

There’s Kieran Trippier, Bukayo Saka and England favourite Raheem Sterling and the option of switching from a back four to a flexible three-man defence. 

Jude Bellingham is expected to join Delcan Rice and Jordan Henderson in midfield, Both Kalvin Phillips and James Maddison are still not fully fit. 

Captain Harry Kane still hasn’t scored but it remains highly likely he’ll still start the game. 

Senegal team news

Senegal have no Sadio Mance and Everton’s Idrissa Gueye is also out of the game. 

Cheikhou Kouyate sustained an ankle injury in their first fixture and has since been ruled out of training, it’s expected Nampalys Mendy will deputise.

With no Mane, Ismaila Sarr and Iliman Ndiaye have picked up the slack – – Famara Diedhiou and Krepin Diatta are also contenders to feature on Sunday – with Salernitana striker Boulaye Dia providing the central goal threat.

Edouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly are stalwarts of the Senegalese defence, which will likely remain unchanged for the upcoming match.