England’s subsequent opponents Senegal shall be filled with confidence when the nations meet in Qatar on Sunday – and are not any strangers to producing a serious World Cup shock.
Gareth Southgate shall be conscious his workforce are favourites to win the final 16 tie, however will face a robust check from a Senegal aspect who he says are a “very dangerous team”.
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What will we find out about Senegal?
Senegal boasted a powerful document throughout qualification for the World Cup finals – and earlier this yr they had been topped African Cup of Nations champions for the primary time after they beat Egypt on penalties within the last.
Nicknamed the Lions of Teranga, they grew to become simply the second workforce from Africa to achieve a World Cup quarter-final stage with a memorable run on the 2002 match.
They recorded a well-known win over France, then beat Sweden within the spherical of 16 earlier than ultimately shedding to Turkey.
Senegal embody round a dozen names who play their membership soccer in England – however their World Cup ambitions had been dealt an enormous blow when their finest participant Sadio Mane was dominated out of the match on account of harm.
How did Senegal attain the final 16?
Aliou Cisse’s males completed second in Group A – however wanted two huge outcomes after a troublesome begin to their marketing campaign in Qatar.
They misplaced 2-0 to the Netherlands – the eventual Group A winners – after conceding two late objectives in what had been a decent affair, earlier than heading into their second match with match hosts Qatar.
Boulaye Dia gave Senegal the lead within the forty first minute earlier than Famara Diedhiou’s sensible header from a nook simply after the break gave them management of the sport.
Qatar pulled a objective again, however Bamba Dieng secured a 3-1 victory with a objective within the 84th minute.
In their last group match, Senegal knew they needed to beat Ecuador to provide them an opportunity of progressing into the knockout levels.
Ecuador had already held the Netherlands to a 1-1 draw and held second spot within the Group A desk forward of the match.
Watford’s Ismaila Sarr gave Senegal the lead simply earlier than half-time from the penalty spot – however they allowed Ecuador to stage within the second half with their first first rate probability.
But Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly’s volley within the seventieth minute gave them a 2-1 victory and secured them a second-placed end in Group A.
Senegal had been spectacular in qualifying for the finals in Qatar – topping their part and remaining unbeaten.
They did, nevertheless, want a penalty shootout to beat Egypt of their play-off tie after drawing 1-1 on combination. Mane scored the profitable kick as they secured qualification 3-1 on penalties.
Who are the gamers to be careful for?
Senegal followers have been apprehensive about how their workforce will do with out influential Bayern Munich attacker Mane, who was dominated out of the match on account of harm.
But regardless of the lack of their finest participant, Senegal nonetheless carry a mixed risk with different huge names within the workforce.
Edouard Mendy
The Chelsea goalkeeper might have had his kind questioned for his membership, however for his nation he stays an necessary participant.
He has but to maintain a clear sheet on the match and can want a giant efficiency towards England.
Kalidou Koulibaly
Senegal’s captain has lengthy been rated one of many world’s prime centre-backs and has loads of expertise to deal with the massive event.
He confirmed his worth to the workforce at each ends of the pitch with the profitable objective which secured the important victory over Ecuador.
Ismaila Sarr
In the absence of the injured Mane, there was a larger expectation positioned on the Watford ahead.
His solely objective to this point has come through a coolly taken penalty, having received the spot-kick himself, and he has the tempo and motion to hassle any opposition.
World Cup shock to recollect
Senegal’s 2002 World Cup group match victory over former coloniser France in Seoul stays one of many nation’s sporting highlights – and one among soccer’s greatest upsets.
France had been the holders, lifting the trophy in 1998 after which following it up by profitable Euro 2000.
They boasted such expertise as Thierry Henry, David Trezeguet, Patrick Vieira and Lilian Thuram and had been tipped to win their third main match in succession – earlier than they met Senegal, ranked as little as 42 on the earth by FIFA.
Read extra:
World Cup’s biggest shocks
After good pressurising and play by Omar Daf and El Hadji Diouf, Papa Bouba Diop took benefit of a mix-up within the French defence to fit the ball house with half-hour performed.
And England ought to beware as the present Senegal coach is Aliou Cisse, who was the captain of the Senegal workforce which produced the 2002 South Korea-Japan World Cup upset.
The consequence helped Senegal qualify for the knockout stage, whereas France ended up ending backside of Group A.
Source: information.sky.com”