Ruthless England surge past Senegal to set up quarterfinal clash with France
Doha, Qatar: England overcame a pedestrian start to surge to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Senegal on Sunday. They will now play France in a thrilling quarterfinal clash with France, a report in The Tribune, Chandigarh, says
Jordan Henderson, Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka scored for England
England took time to get into the rhythm and find their feet find, since it was the first time they were playing African champions, and survived a couple of scares. However, two goals late in the first half changed everything completely and it was a no contest after the break.
The impressive victory has extended England’s all-time unbeaten run against African teams to 21 games, including eight in World Cups..
England manager Gareth Southgate said: “The ruthlessness of the performance was excellent. “Every match you play is a different sort of challenge and different tactical problem to resolve. We’ve stepped up and are answering those questions. The quality of the moves was outstanding and the finishing was ruthless.”
It was tough going for Senegal in the absence of the suspended Idrissa Gueye and injured fellow midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate.
With Sadio Mane missing the tournament through injury the Africans also lacked a cutting edge to trouble an England defence that kept a third successive World Cup clean sheet for the first time in 20 years.
They were very much in the game though for much of the first half England were slow and static and a series of misplaced passes gifted Senegal chances.
The best of them fell to Boulaye Dia and only the strong left arm of keeper Jordan Pickford prevented the Africans taking the lead.
Quick break
After 38 minutes into the game, England finally injected some pace, breaking down the left through Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham, who crossed for the late-arriving Henderson to stroke home the opener.
Kane’s goal drought at this tournament then came to an end in emphatic style. It also took him to within one goal of Wayne Rooney’s national record of 53.
Bellingham again drove from his own box and fed Foden, who rolled the ball into the path of the captain to smash in an unstoppable shot and become England’s eighth scorer in Qatar.
The goals knocked the stuffing out of Senegal and after the break it no longer felt like a contest.
Saka, recalled by Southgate in his only change from the group stage win over Wales, cleverly lifted in the third after 57 minutes following a penetrating run and low cross by Foden.
Short Takes
Sterling leaves after home break-in
England forward Raheem Sterling has left his team’s World Cup camp in Qatar and returned to the UK after a break-in at his home.
The 27-year-old Manchester City player missed England’s 3-0 win against Senegal on Sunday and it was not known if he would be back for his nation’s quarterfinal match with France on Saturday. “We’ve got to give him time to try to resolve that or be there for his family,” coach Gareth Southgate said.
Spain coach told players to take 1,000 penalties
Spain coach Luis Enrique is convinced his players can overcome Morocco in the last-16 and deal with the pressure of a penalty shootout if they need to.
At last year’s European Championship, Spain were involved in two shootouts, beating Switzerland in the quarterfinals before they were knocked out by eventual champions Italy in the semis. “Over a year ago, in many national camps we told players, ‘You have homework ahead of the World Cup. You must take at least 1,000 penalties with the club’. You can’t just train them when they’re with the national team,” Luis Enrique said. “I don’t think it’s a lottery. If you train often, then the way you take penalties improves.”
Qatar’s only liquor store
On the outskirts of Doha, guards stand duty at a gated compound ringed with razor wire, carefully checking passports and permits outside a liquor store
Rigid limits on alcohol are a fact of life in this conservative Muslim nation. Yet corks continue to be popped in luxury boxes at games. Sales continue unabated at the FIFA Fan Zone, and dozens of hotel bars, lounges and nightclubs with liquor licenses
Fans turn to illegal hawkers for tickets
Ashraf Ali arrived at Stadium 974 six hours ahead of the Argentina-Poland match and, in desperation, raised a hand-written sign: “We need tickets.” Someone offered one for $2,000, nine times face value. That was too steep for Ali, 30, who travelled from Egypt to fulfil a dream to see Lionel Messi play.
Thirty minutes before kick-off, he managed to get a ticket for $500. Other ticketless fans are increasingly gathering at stadium perimeters to haggle with hawkers, quietly pushing match tickets for popular matches up to 10 times face value.
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