“
We will be favorites, we will have to assume it
,” Gareth Southgate said before facing Senegal on Sunday in the round of 16 of the World Cup.
That's what his players did.
Without forcing their talent, the Three Lions dominated the Teranga Lions (3-0).
And this after finishing at the top of a group composed of the United States (0-0), Iran (6-2 victory) and Wales (3-0 victory).
Semi-finalists in 2018 and finalists of “their” Euro, last year, the English landed in Qatar with dreams in their heads, in particular that of affording themselves a second world title after 1966. They have the means.
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If Brazil, Argentina and France come up most often when it comes to citing the favorites, England are never far behind.
Is right.
France has been warned: shock in sight on Saturday (8 p.m.), in Al-Bayt.
"
If you want to win the World Cup, you have to face the best teams in the world, and France is certainly one of them
", underlines Harry Kane, top scorer of the 2018 World Cup and who (finally) unlocked his counter on Sunday.
"
As a striker, scoring is our mission and it's the best feeling possible.
I was looking forward to this goal, luckily it happened today and I hope it will be the start of a series, which would obviously help the team.
But as you saw today, we have players from different positions who scored.
It's important when you advance in this kind of tournament… It's great for me to have scored but above all I remember a good performance from the team
, ”added the Tottenham striker, mute in the pool, but already precious .
The anchor point, the base, is him.
"
For any striker, when you run after that goal, it's in the back of your mind,
.
It will do him good.
The positive is that other players scored, we weren't dependent on him.
Kane, 29, has 51 goals in 78 appearances for England.
Read alsoThe notes of the Blues against Poland: the genius of Mbappé, the record of Giroud
Still, Kylian Mbappé and company could say exactly the same thing about their next opponent as Kane about the France team.
And this even if Didier Deschamps only cited Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Spain and Portugal among the favorites in the columns of
Figaro
, just before the start of the tournament.
"
A single slider delivers its truth: the competition
," added the boss of the Blues, well aware that nothing is simple.
Bellingham and Foden, the present and the future
Talent, the successor to Sam Allardyce in 2016 is not lacking in any case.
Around the innkeeper Kane, he can strum on an impressive pool.
Phil Foden, Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling (Sunday package, personal problems), Bukayo Saka or even Jack Grealish: an exceptional reservoir which often makes it possible to forget the limited background.
Remember that Foden, 22, is "
the most talented player
" that his coach at Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, has seen.
Which Guardiola has however coached Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and so many others… “
He has everything to become one of the best players, and not just in England
“added the Catalan technician.
Substitute for the first two matches of the World Cup, to the chagrin of much of the English press, crack started the last two on the right.
Theo Hernandez will therefore have his work cut out for next Saturday's shock...
Read alsoOlivier Giroud after his record in the form of “relief”: “Mbappé will soon catch up with me”
Southgate, much criticized across the Channel and whose succession is regularly mentioned (Tuchel, Pochettino), chose to strengthen his environment after the worrying draw against the USA, with still the nugget Jude Bellingham (19), the future of this teams up with Foden.
A prodigy, too.
We saw it again on Sunday.
“
What is most striking is his mentality
, notes Southgate
.
We have done a lot of work on youth development in recent years.
The difference is always the state of mind, the desire to learn and progress.
He has it all.
To see if Harry Maguire, who has become a regular blooper on the internet for his blunders and who has lost his starting stripes, in particular to Raphaël Varane, can continue to be as solid as since the start of the tournament.
Also to see if goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has the level to shine at this stage of the competition.
He will undoubtedly have a lot to do with a burning Mbappé, "
probably the best player in the world
" according to Bellingham.
"
He's a world-class player.
He has already provided great moments in this tournament and others in the past.
But (Antoine) Griezmann is also a phenomenal player, we know Olivier Giroud very well, they have superb young players in the middle… Having studied them, in all age categories, they have a big reservoir of talent at all levels. positions.
It's a big test for us, we can't wait to pass it
, ”insists the 52-year-old coach.
This is the greatest test one can face.
Gareth Southgate
And to continue: “
This is the biggest test we can face.
They are the world champions.
They have an excessively large group, talent, incredible individuals… It's a team that is difficult to face and against which it is difficult to score.
It's a fantastic challenge, a great match to prepare for.
The two quarters already stalled (Netherlands – Argentina and England-France, editor’s note), these are two historic rivalries which have given rise to great matches.
It's a test against the best.
»
Read alsoMbappé's double, Giroud's record and Koundé's chain… Deschamps' words after France-Poland
England, an athletic team, speed, experience, talent.
A great team, at least on paper.
Harry Kane and company will try to move from theory to practice by dismissing the France team in a stadium no doubt won over to their cause.
It promises a big atmosphere.
It will change France-Poland … Which Kane had also split a double during the last confrontation between the two teams, a friendly match won 3-2 by the Blues in 2017, at the Stade de France, thanks to goals from Samuel Umtiti, Djibril Sidibé and Ousmane Dembélé.
Two Franco-English duels at the World Cup, both to the advantage of England, in 1982 (3-1) and 1966 (2-0).
Never two without three ?
The whole Kingdom will hope for it on Saturday… France, a little less.
