England vs Senegal team news: Bukayo Saka set to start in World Cup last-16 clash | Football News

Bukayo Saka is predicted to start for England in opposition to Senegal in Sunday’s World Cup last-16 clash, Sky Sports News has discovered.

Saka scored twice in England’s World Cup opening group-stage 6-2 win in opposition to Iran however didn’t discover the web in opposition to the United States in the next match.

The 21-year-old Arsenal winger was then an unused substitute in the 3-0 win over Wales, with goalscorers Phil Foden and Marcus Rashford each most popular.

But Saka will now make his return to the beginning line-up in opposition to Senegal on Sunday, as Gareth Southgate’s team look to make the quarter-finals for the third successive main match.

Carra: Saka change exhibits energy in depth

Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher:

“What Southgate has received together with his 4 extensive forwards – Rashford and Foden enjoying the final sport with Saka and Sterling enjoying the 2 video games earlier than – I do not assume there’s an enormous distinction with what he goes with.

“The reality he can chop and alter exhibits how a lot energy in depth he is received in these extensive areas. I simply felt that Foden and Rashford have been the proper ones to go together with, simply because they have been so assured in the final sport, however then once more you go to the primary sport and also you consider how good Sterling and Saka have been in that Iran sport.

“I’m not shocked or surprised with what he does in the wide areas because we’ve got so much quality there. It’s the one area in the squad where there is real competition for places.”

Defensive mindset the explanation?

Sky Sports News’ senior reporter Rob Dorsett

“There’s no doubt Saka has been on brilliant form for Arsenal this season. Saka got the nod against Iran and was player of the match. He brought an energy to that attack, but also with a defensive midnset, and I think that’s probably what has got him the nod today.

“Southgate is aware of he can depend on Saka to get again if there are any breaks, he has the tempo and power to make it possible for occurs, as a result of that is going to be an athletic Senegal aspect.

“Nevertheless, it’s a huge call.”

What does Saka inclusion imply for attacking line-up?

Sky Sports News’ senior reporter Melissa Reddy:

“Despite all the talk of an unchanged line-up, Saka is set to start. So one of Phil Foden or Marcus Rashford is expected to miss out.

“The reality Saka was rested in the final sport, maybe means this was all the time deliberate.

“That leaves a talking point over what Southgate will do elsewhere in attack. Foden and Rashford both offer something different – Rashford is direct but Foden’s grace and dynamism on the ball was on show against Wales. But I don’t think there will be many complaints about Saka’s inclusion.

“Raheem Sterling can also be somebody Southgate trusts, and Southgate has by no means began a knockout sport with out him; the Sterling-Kane mixture has been one of many bedrocks of his administration.”

Reporter notebook: Who else will start for England?

Sky Sports News senior reporter Rob Dorsett:

The bulk of the aspect will little doubt stay unchanged. As, I count on, will the formation – 4-3-3 has labored properly for England in the match up to now, permitting them an additional man in midfield, so I might count on that to stay fixed.

The again 4 is probably going to be the identical, although it is a toss-up between Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier at right-back. Walker may properly win that battle – his distinctive tempo is a attribute that Southgate has all the time valued, although with out Trippier in the team, England lose some experience with set items.

Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham are sure picks in the midfield, and Jordan Henderson may properly get the nod forward of Mason Mount, due to his additional expertise and stabilising presence.

We know Harry Kane will lead the road for England, though he’s but to rating in this World Cup. The captain shouldn’t be enjoying at full tempo, however he insisted in the pre-match information convention he’s absolutely match and feeling nice.

His involvement continues to be very useful: three assists match probably the most any Englishman has managed at a World Cup since David Beckham greater than twenty years in the past.

So the largest areas of competition encompass England’s extensive attacking positions, which have been the topic of a lot debate for the reason that win over Wales. In fact, lengthy earlier than that sport too.

Expect Jack Grealish to stay as England’s super-sub, and so it is a query of ‘which two from 4’, with persuasive arguments potential for every of Rashford, Foden, Sterling and Saka.

Saka is predicted to start, whereas Southgate stated in his pre-match information convention that he is “not sure there’s a right or wrong” alternative, as a result of all 4 are distinctive and every of them gives one thing totally different. That’s very true.

He additionally identified – accurately – that with 5 substitutes obtainable, every of them has the potential of making an impression off the bench.

Amongst the media huge there’s hypothesis that, as a result of Henderson, Rashford and Foden have finished media interviews in the previous couple of days, they should be in the beginning team. I’m unsure the FA or Southgate works like that.

England’s potential route to the World Cup closing

Round of 16 – Sunday December 4
England vs Senegal – Kick-off 7pm

Quarter-finals – Saturday December 10
England vs France or Poland – Kick-off 7pm

Semi-finals – Wednesday December 14
England vs Morocco/Spain/Portugal/Switzerland – Kick-off 7pm

Last-16 fixtures

Saturday December 3
Netherlands 3-1 USA
Argentina 2-1 Australia

Sunday December 4
France (Winners of Group D) vs Poland (Runners-up of Group C) – Kick-off 3pm
England (Winners of Group B) vs Senegal (Runners-up of Group A) – Kick-off 7pm

Monday December 5
Japan (Cinners of Group E) vs Croatia (Runners-up of Group F) – Kick-off 3pm
Brazil (Winners of Group G) vs South Korea (Runners-up of Group H) – Kick-off 7pm

Tuesday December 6
Morocco (Winners of Group F) vs Spain (Runners-up of Group E) – Kick-off 3pm
Portugal (Winners of Group H) vs Switzerland (Runners-up of Group G) – Kick-off 7pm