Southgate's bets keep paying off and World Cup quarterfinals await

1 year ago 49

4:30 PM ET

James OlleySenior Writer, ESPN FC

AL KHOR, Qatar -- England bushed Senegal 3-0 astatine Al Bayt Stadium connected Sunday arsenic goals from Jordan Henderson, Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka set-up a blockbuster quarterfinal clash with France.

The Three Lions took power of the crippled towards the extremity of a cagey archetypal fractional with Jude Bellingham playing a captious relation successful some of England's goals. First, the 19-year-old recovered Henderson successful the container for a elemental left-foot finish, and conscionable earlier the whistle drove guardant connected the counter-attack to find Phil Foden, who successful crook released Kane to smash location his archetypal extremity astatine this World Cup.

After the restart, Foden turned supplier again for Saka connected 57 minutes earlier England saw retired the last half-hour with the minimum of fuss, reaching the last-eight for the 3rd large tourney successful succession.

Rapid reaction

1. Southgate's gamble connected Henderson pays disconnected (like the rest)

England manager Gareth Southgate's squad selections are the taxable of nationalist statement these days fixed the options astatine his disposal. But leaving retired Marcus Rashford, the two-goal leader against Wales, was astir apt the header telephone connected Sunday, and the prime to clasp Jordan Henderson successful midfield besides raised a fewer eyebrows.

Henderson has played an important relation for England truthful acold astatine this World Cup, injecting immoderate caller vigor against the United States earlier starting successful the triumph implicit Wales past clip retired -- but it was inactive a astonishment helium was fixed the motion implicit Mason Mount successful 1 of the attacking cardinal midfield positions.

Henderson has agelong been a reliable and dependable subordinate of the England squad, but helium needed 62 caps to people his archetypal planetary goal, which came successful past summer's Euro 2020 quarter-final against Ukraine. Perhaps Henderson peaks successful the knockout rounds excessively (more of that later).

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England's 3rd extremity scored by Henderson was the apotheosis of different influential show vindicating Southgate's judgement, conscionable arsenic successful the wide areas wherever the Three Lions manager has the toughest calls. Southgate went with Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka, and some scored.

England whitethorn person endured a six-game winless tally coming into these finals, but Southgate's tourney nous has enabled them to render that fishy signifier a distant memory.

2. Kane connected way to highest successful the knockout rounds

Harry Kane spoke connected Saturday astir the enactment helium has done successful attempting to highest physically and mentally successful the knockout rounds astatine tournaments aft a goal-less radical signifier successful Qatar.

At the past World Cup 4 years ago, Kane won the Golden Boot, but 5 of his six goals came successful the radical signifier and the 29-year-old admitted helium felt progressively fatigued arsenic the contention wore on. Kane scored each 3 of his Euro 2020 goals past summertime successful the knockout rounds and helium is present disconnected the people astatine these finals by finishing a superb counter-attacking determination by thrashing a ferocious changeable past Edouard Mendy.

Saturday's clash against France is palpably different measurement up for England but Southgate's broadside volition person a amended accidental if Kane truly is tailoring his signifier to travel bully astatine the concern extremity of the tournament.

The Tottenham striker is besides present conscionable 1 extremity shy of equalling Wayne Rooney's planetary grounds for England (53).

3. Bellingham thrives connected his biggest signifier yet

Jude Bellingham was playing successful the biggest crippled of his beingness but it was intolerable to tell, specified was the comfortableness and authorization with which helium met the task astatine hand.

After providing the assistance for Henderson's opening goal, the 19-year-old's astir eye-catching publication was successful bursting guardant to pb a counter-attack, timing his walk to perfection truthful Foden could merchandise Harry Kane to treble England's pb successful first-half stoppage time.

Bellingham's temperament is matching his endowment nether the astir unit helium volition person experienced, and the instauration of that is successful his hard enactment retired of possession: Bellingham won each 4 of his tackles and much than fractional of his game-high 16 duels.

With the ball, helium was typically slick, completing 30 of his 33 passes earlier being withdrawn for the last 14 minutes with France successful mind. It is simply a recognition to the USA that they were capable to quieten Bellingham arsenic overmuch arsenic they did successful the radical stage. Nobody other has travel adjacent yet.

Player ratings

England: Jordan Pickford 7, Kyle Walker 7, John Stones 7, Harry Maguire 6, Luke Shaw 7; Jude Bellingham 9, Declan Rice 7, Jordan Henderson 8; Bukayo Saka 8, Harry Kane 8, Phil Foden 8.

Subs: Marcus Rashford 6, Jack Grealish 6, Mason Mount 6, Eric Dier 6, Kalvin Phillips 6.

Senegal: Edouard Mendy 6, Youssouf Sabaly 6, Kalidou Koulibaly 5, Abdou Diallo 5, Ismail Jakobs 5, Ismaila Sarr 6, Nampalys Mendy 6, Pathe Ciss 6, Krepin Diatta 5, Iliman Ndiaye 5, Boulaye Dia 6.

Subs: Pape Matar Sarr 6, Cheikh Dieng 6, Pape Gueye 6, Famara Diedhiou 6, Fode Ballo-Toure 6.

Best and worst performers

BEST: Jude Bellingham, England

It was a midfield masterclass from England's youngest player.

WORST: Kalidou Koulibaly, Senegal

Senegal were outclassed here, and Koulibaly was astatine the bosom of a defence that could not header with England's question erstwhile they accrued the tempo.

Highlights and notable moments

Senegal spent astir of the archetypal fractional connected the beforehand foot, and indeed, it was Senegal who appeared poised to people first.

In the 32nd minute, England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford came up with a immense prevention to contradict Boulaye Dia from adjacent range.

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 4, 2022

But immoderate 5 minutes aboriginal against the tally of play, seemingly retired of nowhere, England recovered the backmost of the nett to propulsion ahead.

Jude Bellingham received the shot on the flank, dribbled done a defender and past laid it disconnected to Jordan Henderson, who slotted it wrong the acold station with a one-side swipe.

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 4, 2022

Just earlier the goal, England had registered conscionable 0.09 xG, oregon expected goals, portion Senegal's xG was a hefty 0.89, but each that matters is the people sheet.

The lucifer would yet decorativeness arsenic a 3-0 triumph for England, but it was those 2 aboriginal moments -- Senegal failing to score, and England turning astir and scoring archetypal -- that dictated the last result.

As a bonus, present are England fans astatine a barroom reacting to the goals:

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England fans observe archetypal fractional goals from Jordan Henderson and Harry Kane.

After the match: What the players and managers said

Check backmost shortly...

Key stats (provided by ESPN Stats & Information)

With 8 antithetic extremity scorers, England already has their astir antithetic extremity scorers ever successful a World Cup. The grounds is 10 antithetic players scoring, which was done by Belgium successful 2018, Italy successful 2006 and France successful 1982.
Jude Bellingham is the archetypal subordinate to people a extremity and supply an assistance astatine a World Cup earlier turning 20 years aged since Lionel Messi successful 2006.
Jude Bellingham is the lone teen to grounds an assistance successful a World Cup knockout signifier crippled since astatine slightest 1966, which is erstwhile our dataset begins.
At 21 years and 90 days old, Bukayo Saka is the youngest subordinate to people 3 oregon much goals for England astatine the FIFA World Cup.
Phil Foden is the second-youngest subordinate since 1966 with aggregate assists successful a World Cup knockout signifier game. Brazil's Ronaldo had 2 against Denmark successful the 1998 quarterfinals.