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England's quarter-finals against Senegal: The team that Germany would like to be

2022-12-04T22:02:29.675Z


Efficient, sovereign, with the best chemistry between young and old: England dealt with Senegal like a top team. The grandstands belonged to the African champions, while defending champions France are now waiting for England.


Enlarge image

Thanks, kid: Veteran Jordan Henderson gets in touch after Jude Bellingham's assist

Photo: IMAGO/ULMER / IMAGO/Ulmer/Team photo

More tournament team is not possible:

It was not long ago that Germany and England parted in a test, sorry: Nations League game 3: 3.

In September, observers agreed that both footballing nations were a long way from surviving at the World Cup in Qatar.

Ten weeks later, the DFB-Elf was eliminated - and England a real candidate for the title.

In the round of 16 against Senegal, Gareth Southgate's team put in an almost frighteningly mature performance: patient in possession, stable in defence, ice-cold in front of goal.

Weakening top performers are back at their old strength, young and old in the squad harmonize so well that Jordan Henderson celebrated assist Jude Bellingham more than himself when he scored the opening goal. Is it coming home?

Just the calm.

But it always seems possible.

The result:

England beat Senegal 3-0 (2-0), and the favorites never had to worry about reaching the quarter-finals.

Read the match report here.

An emergency:

Senegal's coach Aliou Cissé could not draw from the full, with Cheikhou Kouyaté and Idrissa Gueye two experienced clearers were missing in central midfield.

But Gareth Southgate's side were also missing a prominent name, one that since his England debut ten years ago has always featured in the starting XI when things got serious in the knockout stages: Raheem Sterling wasn't even included in the squad.

The Chelsea professional was available because he had to take care of “family matters”, the English said.

Later it was clarified: Armed burglars had broken into Sterling's house while he was in Qatar.

How the lions hunt:

This is how the duel of the »Three Lions« against the »Lions of Teranga« began with smaller handicaps on both sides.

They were hardly noticeable.

Both teams brought what they could onto the pitch well and patiently: England tried to combine themselves with fast-paced but rarely risky passing games, while Senegal waited for turnovers and switched at lightning speed.

The African champions had two good chances through Ismaïla Sarr (22nd) and Boulaye Dia (32nd), who forced Jordan Pickford to do a great job.

Then England struck - and took the first opportunity to lead.

Two Harry:

Two

Cornerstones of English success seem to have found their way into the tournament in good time.

Harry Maguire already played a strong preliminary round, his save against Dia (5th) also weighed more against Senegal than a dangerous bad pass before Sarr's chance.

Above all, however, Harry Kane shows his class: England's number nine is an attacking playmaker, he initiated the lead with a nice pass and made it 2-0 himself after nice preliminary work by Bellingham and Phil Foden (45+2).

It was Kane's eleventh goal for England in major tournaments, making him the sole English record-holder ahead of Gary Lineker.

For Africa:

The English team might have been ahead of Senegal on the pitch, but drummers and costumed fans in the stands created an audible pro-Senegal mood just before the break.

The African football festival at Al-Bait Stadium in Khour, some 35 kilometers north of Doha, followed an exceptionally successful group stage for the continent, with seven victories for Africa's representatives compared to just two in 2018.

"We hoisted the Senegalese and African flags," said national coach Cissé before the game.

Senegal's banner is now at half mast.

Morocco, the last African side left in the tournament, meet Spain on Tuesday (4pm).

Inspired:

In the second half, England managed the result like a top team.

The Three Lions even followed up once, Bukayo Saka scoring his third goal of the tournament after a pass from Foden (57th).

Southgate is spoiled for choice on the flanks more than ever: a goal from Saka, two assists from Foden, plus Marcus Rashford, who has also had three wins, on the bench – and Sterling as an option again soon.

Nobody in England can complain about a lack of depth in the squad.

Rivals with little history:

In the quarter-finals, the opponent is now France, the strong English defense (only two goals conceded) meets the outstanding Kylian Mbappé (already five goals).

The duel has a surprisingly short history, there has never been a knockout duel between the two teams at world or European championships.

So on Saturday (8 p.m.) there is a chance to make history.

Source: spiegel

All sports articles on 2022-12-04

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