Live Blog
ENGLAND are taking on Senegal RIGHT NOW 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 have started the Three Lions' 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
BETTING SPECIAL - GET £40 IN FREE BETS FOR THE WORLD CUP
Follow all the action from Qatar with our live blog…
England 0-0 Senegal
15. England are pressing well now, putting Senegal under pressure whenever they are in possession of the ball.
The only thing lacking for the Three Lions is the final ball.
Patience is a virtue.
England 0-0 Senegal
13. From the early exchanges it seems England will get the most joy putting crosses into the box.
Mendy seems to be coming for everything and getting nothing.
Kane is on the ground holding his ankle as is customary.
England 0-0 Senegal
11. England are starting to grow into this game.
Mendy has shown in these early stages that he does not inspire confidence at the back with some of his decisions.
Chelsea seem to be breaking goalkeepers for a living now.
England 0-0 Senegal
9. Diallo is almost caught dallying on the ball.
The keeper sold him short there with two England players pressing.
Saka dispossess him but Senegal manage to win it back.
England 0-0 Senegal
7. The camera pans onto Giovanni Infantino.
Sat in what can only be described as an armchair you would be quite happy to have in your front room.
England try to press with a free kick but Senegal clear.
England 0-0 Senegal
5. Both teams are struggling to retain the ball.
Dia bursts through the middle of the England defence.
His touch is a little heavy and ball runs through to Pickford.
England 0-0 Senegal
3. The drums beat from the stands.
Creating a carnival atmosphere in the ground.
Henderson dispossess Mendy deep in the Senegal half.
England 0-0 Senegal
1. Senegal come forward after Pickford's clearance goes into touch.
The African champions seem happy to pass the ball around.
England not seeming to press currently.
Kick-off: England vs Senegal
We are underway in the Al Bayt Stadium.
Senegal get the game started.
The weight of expectation on the shoulders of every single player.
Three Lions ready for victory
As the players head out onto the pitch it looks like the Three Lions are ready for anything Senegal can throw at them.
Tensions are building inside the ground, the atmosphere is ramping up to fever-pitch.
An England win would see them face defending champions France in the quarter-finals and boost the royalties of Baddiel and Skinner even further.
Fans starting to feel nerves
Kick off is fast approaching, players congregating in the tunnel, the wait is almost over.
The reality of the size of the occasion seems to be hitting home with England fans around the ground.
Mistakes will not be forgiven, this is knockout football.
Senegal looking to break record
African teams have lost eight of nine World Cup knockout matches against European opponents.
The sole exception being a Senegalese win over Sweden.
Aliou Cisse will be hoping they can repeat that feat today.
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.
