England set up a humdinger of a FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarter-final tie against defending champions France with a convincing victory over Senegal.
Gareth Southgate’s side didn’t have everything their own way in a tense opening half hour at Al Bayt Stadium. Jordan Pickford rushed out to force Ismaila Sarr to scoop over the bar from point-blank range after 22 minutes. And 10 minutes later, Sarr cleverly played in Boulaye Dia for a fizzing shot that goalkeeper Pickford met with a strong left hand.
England were laboured in that opening period – but Jude Bellingham and Jordan Henderson combined to flick a switch on a performance that was suddenly filled with confidence and vitality. When England broke down the left, teenager Bellingham took charge to send in a low cross. Fellow midfielder Henderson, surging into the box, steered an accomplished finish beyond Edouard Mendy.
Mendy was beaten again in the third minute of first-half time added on. And Bellingham was instrumental once more. The Borussia Dortmund player stole possession in his own half and burst upfield to feed Phil Foden. His first-time pass was perfectly timed and executed, feeding the fast-arriving Kane to put his laces through the ball and score his first goal of the tournament.
Any faint hopes of a Senegal fightback were extinguished 12 minutes after the break. England served notice they weren’t settling for 2-0 when Mendy kept his eye on a shot from Kane that viciously dipped as it reached the keeper. But Mendy was helpless 60 seconds later.
The impish Foden dodged a tackle to advance and squeeze a left-wing cross through Kalidou Koulibaly. Saka, who struck a double in England’s opening game, met the delivery with a deft chip over the grounded goalkeeper to set up his team’s first World Cup meeting with France since 1982.
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