England are eyeing a spot in the quarter-finals of the World Cup but must first negotiate a tough Senegal side.
Job one was completed when the Three Lions topped the group, thus avoiding a tougher draw in Netherlands. Senegal present challenges of their own, though, and Gareth Southgate has warned that the absence of Sadio Mane doesn't make their opposition any weaker.
The England boss must also decide whether or not to stick with the attacking set-up that hit three past Wales. Phil Foden and Marcus Rashford both came into the fold and scored, leaving Southgate with a decision to make with Raheem Sterling and Bukayo Saka also options.
World champions France are also in action as they face Poland. Les Bleus topped their group and remain on course to defend their title in Qatar providing they can overcome their next challenge.
Mirror Football will keep you up to date throughout the day.
World cup group stage changes - FIFA should take note of the past few days
Our man John Cross has his say...
"FIFA can take lessons from many things in this World Cup.
"But one they must learn from is the drama, the excitement and last gasp tension of the Group stages. The final round of Group matches were truly special."
Read his thoughts here.
France v Poland teams are out
France: Lloris, Koundé, Varane, Upamecano, Theo Hernández, Tchouaméni, Rabiot, Dembélé, Griezmann Mbappé, Giroud
Poland: Szczęsny, Bereszyński, Kiwior, Glik, Cash, Frankowski, S. Szymański, Krychowiak, Zieliński, Kamiński, Lewandowski.
Brazil boss on Neymar's return
He said: “Regarding Neymar he’s going to practice this afternoon and if he is OK, he will play tomorrow. I don’t share any information that is not true. My answer is he will practice this afternoon, if everything goes well, he will play.”
Sutton admits Maguire error
Chris Sutton admits he's had to "hold his hands up" on Harry Maguire as the defender continues to star for England.
He admitted in the Daily Mail : "Ive held my hands up, I've done something journalists don't do very often, I've said I was wrong on Harry Maguire. He's here, but in all seriousness, today is going to be a bigger test for Maguire. England will dominate the ball, but Senegal will counter and if England do have a weakness, which they did have coming into the tournament, I thought it was that centre-half position so Maguire will get his sternest test."
Senegal's six Premier League stars looking to end England's World Cup dream
England will battle with Senegal on Sunday evening in an effort to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Qatar.
The Three Lions booked their place in the knockout rounds having topped their group ahead of the USA, Iran and fellow home nation Wales. Meanwhile, Aliou Cisse’s Lions of Tiranga did excellently to progress having finished just one point behind the Netherlands in Group A.
Whilst the clash is a real opportunity for Gareth Southgate ’s England, the reigning African Cup of Nations champions are still blessed with talent including a few faces that would be familiar to fans of the Premier League.
Meet those members of the Senegal squad aiming to plot the downfall of a few of their club teammates and cause what would be an almighty shock...
Find the full story HERE.
England's World Cup prize money revealed
England's players are expected to secure bonuses of around £400,000 each if the Three Lions manage to go all the way and win the World Cup later this month.
That figure is expected to rise even more when factoring in endorsement deals. Gareth Southgate's men have a bonus schedule that rises each time England progress into the next round of the competition, the first of which was pocketed when they finished top of Group B.
Next up is the stern test of Senegal, the reigning champions of the Africa Cup of Nations, in the round of 16. Should England run out triumphant in that clash, they would be one step closer to the all-important winners bonus of £400,000 to £450,000 per player in Southgate’s 26-man squad.
Find the full story HERE.
Kane explains why England players are so protective of Southgate
Harry Kane has thrown a protective arm around Gareth Southgate, saying: “We’re lucky to have him.”
England’s skipper stood squarely behind the head coach as the Three Lions prepared for a game that could see them reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the second successive tournament.
Southgate came in for criticism during the Nations League games last summer as the Three Lions flopped, finishing bottom of their group and suffering relegation.
But Kane said the squad was looking at the bigger picture and recognised what an asset they had in a boss who has extended his stay with the national team until 2024.
Find the full story HERE.
Image:
Hector Vivas - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)Gary Neville took a lot of stick before the World Cup about going on beIN Sports.
His defence and argument was that he wanted to use the platform to raise the issues surrounding Qatar and the tournament. True to his word, Neville had not just one but two rants on Saturday.
Neville went on a two-and-a-half minute long monologue in which he - rather bizarrely - ranted about the “negativity of the English media”, overlooking the fact that he is part of the English media.
He also forgets that some of the campaigning work in the years building up to the tournament and reporting out here - by the English media - has been remarkable. But clearly, he has selected reading and viewing. But fair play to him, at least he spoke up. Then he went in for round two after Argentina’s win over Australia. I caught the repeat when I got in from the game at 3am.
Jesus' Brazil blow dents Arsenal title hopes
Brazil international Gabriel Jesus is rumoured to need surgery on his knee that will rule him out of action for three months, as per Sportv.
This would drastically hinder Arsenal's hopes of lifting the Premier League title, despite being five points clear at the top of the table as things stand.
Yaya Toure gives thoughts on Senegal's chances against England
He missed out on the World Cup glory as a player but Yaya Toure is hoping Senegal will fly the flag for Africa.
The former Ivory Coast midfielder was part of a stellar squad in 2010 which failed to get past the group stages. But with African football now reaching new heights, Toure believes this year's AFCON champions are ready to rumble.
“For me Senegal is in a good place. They have many good players with Premier League experience and they have come through a tough group. They are the African champions and even though Sadio Mane is not with them, they are showing why they must be respected.”
Read Toure's thoughts in FULL.
Southgate explains decision over who takes England penalties
Gareth Southgate is ready to put his faith in Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka if England’sWorld Cup bid goes to a penalty shootout.
The pair were plunged into a personal hell when they missed from the spot as the Three Lions lost to Italy in the final of the Euros 17 months ago. But Southgate will ask them to step up for their country again - and is ready to once more sanction late substitutions to ensure England’s best penalty takers are on the pitch.
England face Senegal in the last 16 on Sunday night, and Southgate said: “I would have no hesitation at all. Marcus’ stats would be among the best in the world for penalty taking and Bukayo is now taking them more regularly with his club."
Read the full story HERE.
Image:
PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)Mbappe overlooked by ex-Man Utd star as France's "key player"
Antonie Griezmann - not Kylian Mbappe - is "key" to France's World Cup hopes, according to Diego Forlan.
The former Manchester United star, who helped Uruguay reach the last four in South Africa 12 years ago, believes the Atletico Madrid star is the key cog for Les Blues, who are spoilt for choice in the attacking third. Mbappe is the headline name in their starting XI and scored in the final four years ago.
Read on here.
Giroud prepares for France record that he was never meant to break
Olivier Giroud is on the verge of making history but the former Arsenal and Chelsea striker still divides opinions.
The 36-year-old who has also defied age will become France’s all time top scorer if he is on the mark against Poland on Sunday in the round of 16. A double against Australia took him to 51 goals for Les Bleus, level with Arsenal legend Thierry Henry who sends Giroud a well done text message after every international goal.
Read more HERE.
Lionel Messi hails "beautiful" record-breaking night
Lionel Messi said it was “beautiful” to share his record breaking night with the whole of Argentina.
Messi, 35, made his 1,000th career appearance as he scored his 789th goal to overtake Diego Maradona to become Argentina’s second highest-ever goalscorer in a World Cup.
It felt like all of the 45,032 fans in the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium were there to witness greatness as Messi carried Argentina into the quarter finals and a showdown with Holland.
But Messi insisted that he can feel the support of his whole nation even though Argentina were hanging on at the end as Australia nearly pulled off an unlikely comeback.
Read Messi's quotes in full.
Image:
Charlotte Wilson/Offside via Getty Images)England predicted line-up vs Senegal
Marcus Rashford and Jordan Henderson look primed to be the big winners as Gareth Southgate prepares to roll his selection dice.
England’s head coach has left himself with no end of options after his rotation policy paid rich dividends. Southgate created a problem for himself after his introduction of Phil Foden and Marcus Rashford to the Three Lions starting XI for the defeat of Wales.
Both found the scoresheet in the victory over Rob Page’s side - with Manchester United man Rashford, in particular, showing glimpses of the form that catapulted him into the public eye. The England boss gave little away on the eve of the game against Senegal but admitted that his front players are all likely to get an outing at some stage.
Predicted XI: Pickford; Trippier, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Henderson, Bellingham, Rice; Saka, Kane, Rashford.
Image:
Alex Pantling/Getty)England's task
Finishing top of the group meant England dodged the Dutch, who beat the USA on Saturday.
Senegal though are no pushovers and will pose a unique threat for the Three Lions.
Southgate said: "We’re very impressed with them. They’re African champions, a very proud nation, they’re great competitors with lots of belief and excellent individual players who cause problems and bring problems."
