December 4, 2022, 5:07 PM
December 4, 2022, 5:07 PM
When the worst was happening, the youthful Jude Bellingham and captain Harry Kane appeared to lead England to thrash Senegal 3-0 on Sunday and qualify for the quarterfinals of Qatar 2022, where they will meet France.
Gareth Southgate’s team was controlled by the African champions, who twice came close to opening the scoring in the first half hour of play, but he forgave and left the World Cup.
Jordan Henderson at 38 minutes, Harry Kane at 45 and Buyako Saka at 57 scored England’s goals at the majestic Al-Bayt Stadiumin Al-Khor, 45 km from Doha, before 65,985 spectators.
On Saturday and also in this scenario, the only one of the eight that host the tournament that is not in the Qatari capital, England will play against France from 15:00 HB for the quarterfinals.
The current world champion beat Poland 3-1 earlier with a superb Kylian Mbappé, who gave an assist and He scored a double with him reaching five goals in Qatar 2022, of which he is the top scorer.
– Bellingham dazzles –
Before the start of the game, and as they have throughout the World Cup, the English players knelt on the grass for a few seconds, in an action to protest against racism and discrimination spread globally.
After twenty minutes of sterile dominance by the European team and with Senegal withdrawn and waiting, lhe Leones de Teranga perked up and took the lead on the field, putting goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in trouble on a couple of occasions, but they neglected behind and it turned out to be fatal.
At 23 minutes, Ismaila Sarr had the opening but finished off over the crossbar in the penalty area before the desperate departure of Pickford, who ten minutes later saved his goal with his left arm before a violent cross shot from Boulaye Dia.
Those two arrivals encouraged Senegal, who was unprotected in defense.
Then the new jewel of English football, Jude Bellingham, appeared in all his splendor, who with his speed finished off the African champion in two thrusts.
At 38 minutes, and in the best play of the match, Luke Shaw bunted for Declan Ricewhich lengthened Kane first, who in turn put Bellingham to run.
The 19-year-old Borussia Dortmund striker for whom the most powerful clubs in Europe are fightingreached the bottom and gave the pass of death to Jordan Henderson, who touched short and marked the opening.
– Knockout punch –
Senegal felt the bump, went groggy and seven minutes later received the knockout blow.
Bellingham got the ball into his half with the African defense ahead, fired off at speed through the central zone, opened Foden on the left and he gave up first for Kane. The Tottenham striker entered the area alone and shot Edouard Mendy with a cross shot.
After the break and with Senegal delivered, England continued to attack and on 57 minutes Saka scored the third,He defined with a short touch before the departure of Mendy after a great pass from Foden from the left of the attack.
Saka, another 21-year-old youth who plays for Arsenal, was the great surprise of Garth Southgate by including him as a starter instead of Marcus Rashford, who had been the great figure and he had scored a brace in a 3-0 win over Wales at the end of the group stage.
Southgate refreshed their attack with the entry of Jack Grealish and Rashford for Saka and Foden, but England had already lowered the revolutions and regulated the energies, facing their duel with the world champion and Mbappé.
