Live Blog
ENGLAND are taking on Senegal TONIGHT for a place in the World Cup quarter-finals.
And the headline team news is that Raheem Sterling is NOT in the squad tonight as he is dealing with a family matter.
Meanwhile, Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka are STARTING England's World Cup last-16 clash.
But it's bad news for the Three Lions' top scorer Marcus Rashford, who will have to watch his team-mates from the bench.
- Start time: 7pm GMT
- TV channel: ITV 1
- Live stream: ITV X
- England XI: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Henderson, Bellingham; Saka, Foden, Kane
- Senegal XI: Mendy; Sabaly, Koulibaly (c), Diallo, Jakobs, Ciss, Mendy; Ndiaye, Diatta, Sarr, Dia
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Festive spirit in Qatar
No doubt it will not be the only spirit flowing in Qatar this evening with this last 16 encounter between England and Senegal.
Fans are still getting used to this winter World Cup but seem to be taking to it pretty easily.
Let's hope no England players are on the 'naughty list' at the end of the game.
Phil your boots mate
Often regarded as the best manager in the world, Pep Guardiola has had many things to say about his youngster in his short period in the limelight.
Considering the thoughts of such a manager, it begs belief that Gareth Southgate does not utilise him for England.
With Foden starting this evening, he has the chance to prove his point.
Phil Foden is the most talented player I have ever seen in my career.
Pep GuardiolaMan CityTime to shine for Three Lions
As the players do their pre-match thing, the players seem to absorbing the atmosphere here.
It is a chance for any one of these players to become a hero back home.
Penny for your thoughts lads.
Senegal capable of hitting spot
Should this knockout game go all the way to extra-time and penalties, England could have opponents to fear.
Senegal are more than experienced in the dark arts of penalties having won their recent AFCON title beating Egypt on penalties.
Any England fan winces at the thought of a shootout and this may not be the team to do it against.
Cisse fit for England crunch match
Senegal manager Aliou Cisse has recovered from illness and is expected to be back in the dugout tonight.
He has been forced to miss media duties and training this week due to fever-type symptoms.
The Senegal manager led his team off the coach today with a smile beaming from ear to ear.
You're gonna hear me roar
England fans have been very dismissive of tonight's opponents.
Interviews with Three Lions supporters as they come into the ground shows them in an overly confident mood, with one fan stating he couldn't even name one of the opponent's players.
Let's hope he doesn't remember them for all the wrong reasons tomorrow.
Senegal subs:
1. Dieng, 2. Mendy, 4. Cissé, 7. Jackson, 10. N'Diaye, 12. Ballo-Touré, 17. Sarr, 19. Diédhiou, 20. Dieng, 23. Gomis, 24. Name, 25. Loum, 26. Gueye
Senegal starting XI:
The Lions of Teranga makes two changes with Nampalys Mendy coming into midfield and Ismaila Sarr joining the attack.
16. Mendy, 21. Sabaly, 3. Koulibaly, 22. Diallo, 14. Jakobs, 11. Ciss, 6. N Mendy, 15. Diatta, 13. Ndiaye, 18. Sarr, 9. Dia
England subs:
7. Grealish, 11. Rashford, 12. Trippier, 13. Pope, 14. Phillips, 15. Dier, 16. Coady, 18. Alexander-Arnold, 19. Mount, 23. Ramsdale, 24. Wilson, 25. Maddison, 26. Gallagher
England starting XI:
Bukayo Saka comes back into the team for this crunch match while Kyle Walker, Phil Foden and Jordan Henderson keep their places.
1. Pickford, 2. Walker, 5. Stones, 6. Maguire, 3. Shaw, 4. Rice, 8. Henderson, 22. Bellingham, 17. Saka, 9. Kane, 20. Foden
Tension builds in Al Khor
As we edge closer and closer to kick-off, the air of anticipation builds in and around the ground.
Senegal come into this game as massive underdogs but the AFCON champions will not be feeling the fear this evening.
Their fans are more than happy to remind England fans who they are playing tonight.
More of Welsh effort needed
Defying all their doubters again, England's second half performance in Tuesday's final group game saw them not only sweep aside their Welsh neighbours but also booked their place in the last 16 as group winners.
After a dismal display against the USA, some were wondering whether the demolishing of Iran in their first game was just a flash in the pan.
However, the display in the second half against Wales showed their fans just what they are capable of.
The Three Lions will need more of that application this evening.
Sterling out of Senegal game
Raheem Sterling will not feature at all for England this evening as his absence has just been announced.
His absence will give some players a chance to make a name for themselves on the big stage tonight.
Al Khor-hol free support zone
England fans will be supporting their side all over Qatar for those not fortunate to be able to get themselves tickets.
Potentially one of the quietest places to go to watch the game is right next to the England team hotel.
An alcohol-free Irish bar stands in the basking sun, not quite the hotspot most Three Lions fans are seeking for the game.
Lions fight over their pride
The Lions of Teranga stand in the way of England progressing to a quarter-final with reigning champions France.
It is not as simple as it sounds with the African champions standing in their way.
If Senegal's players are as up for this game as their fans, this will be a tricky fixture for Gareth Southgate's men.
Skipper looking to break jinx
Harry Kane has not scored a goal in open play in an England shirt in 2022.
Having won the golden boot in the 2018 edition in Russia, the Three Lions talisman has yet to register a goal in Qatar.
The Tottenham forward will be looking to change that stat with his goals now needed to fire England through the knockout rounds of the competition.
France BEAT Poland
Well, well, well England fans.
It's France in the quarter-finals of the World Cup if they beat Senegal tonight in the last-16.
A superb Kylian Mbappe brace and Olivier Giroud's record-breaking goal fired Les Bleus into the last eight.
Sterling value dropping in Qatar
Ex-Arsenal striker Alan Smith has suggested it may time for Gareth Southgate to leave Raheem Sterling out of his England side for their last 16 match-up.
Having rested the Chelsea attacker against Wales, Smith feels the side may have a better balance if the England manager were to leave him out today.
He told Sky Sports: “It’s going to be difficult to leave out [Marcus] Rashford but that’s not to say he can’t. He’s one of those players that can make a big impact as a sub. I’d love to see [Phil] Foden in there again. And I’d like to see [Bukayo] Saka. Maybe those two.”
“It might be time to pass the baton for this one game, we’ll see. He’s never disappointed or let Gareth Southgate down in the past. Of all those names we’ve been talking about, perhaps he’s been the one that hasn’t quite hit his straps.”
Saka & Foden to START
SunSport's man on the ground Charlie Wyett has some news...
Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka are set to start against Senegal tonight.
Manager Gareth Southgate is keeping Foden in the team while is poised to bring Saka back into the starting XI.
And that is heartbreak for Marcus Rashford, who has scored three times this tournament including two against Wales.
And it is also a blow for Raheem Sterling who was pushing for a place after failing to feature in the 3-0 win over Wales.
Southgate shoots down French journalist
During the press-match press conference in the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre, Southgate fielded a number of questions in the lead-up to their last 16 showdown.
Most were focussed on the task at hand, picking the manager’s brains on the challenge ahead.
The final question however was posed by a French journalist who asked the England manager about their potential quarter-final clash with defending champions France.
Southgate replied, “We play Senegal tomorrow, there’s nothing else to discuss.”
The story so far...
England finished top of Group B with seven points, which is more than what France, Brazil, Portugal, Spain, Germany and Belgium finished with...
History favours Southgate’s squad
England have never faced Senegal before, only once have they faced an African side in the knockout rounds, defeating Cameroon 3-2 after extra time in the quarter-finals of the 1990 tournament.
The Three Lions have previously played African nations in the World Cup seven times and remain unbeaten (W4, D3).
African sides have lost eight of their nine World Cup knockout matches against European nations, though Senegal were the exception in 2002 when they defeated Sweden 2-1 in the ‘round of 16’.
Three Lions ooze confidence
Having never lost to African opposition in 20 previous international matches, England will be looking to make it 21 today in Al Khor.
With it being Senegal’s second only appearance in the knockout phase, they will be looking to make a statement against Gareth Southgate’ side.
The Lions of Teranga have a number of players playing their trade in England who will be more buoyed up than ever to cause a shock result.
Atmosphere building
It's hours before kick-off and England fans are making themselves heard in Al Khor...
Aliou’s race against time
Senegal manager Aliou Cisse is trying to return to full-fitness himself in time for this evening’s last 16 crunch showdown with England.
The Lions of Teranga have been without their manager for training and media duties as he reported feeling unwell with fever like symptoms.
Senegal have said they are confident he will be on the touchline for the game but only time will tell.
Assistant coach Regis Bogaert has been leading training in his absence.