England vs Senegal – 3-1 Win. To break through and go to the World Cup quarterfinals, Gareth Southgate’s team relied heavily on the 19-year-old midfielder. A particular kind of teenager is needed to lead a team into the World Cup quarterfinals. Mbappe was one among them. Jude Bellingham is additional. On a chilly Sunday night at the Al-Bayt Stadium, the 19-year-old midfielder guided England to a 3-0 victory over Senegal to advance to the round of 16 in Qatar 2022. Despite the easy victory, in the end, the Three Lions labored in the first half, having plenty of possession but doing little with the ball.
On the other side, Senegal was threatening on the break, increasing the possibility of a further World Cup shock. But then Bellingham took charge. The Borussia Dortmund starlet produced two excellent opportunities just before halftime that resulted in goals for Jordan Henderson and Harry Kane. Phil Foden’s final pass enabled Harry Kane to score his first goal in Qatar, and the Manchester City winger added a second goal in the second half when Bukayo Saka converted a low left-wing cross.
The Performing Side:
Jordan Henderson:
There aren’t many Jordan Henderson supporters among the loyal England supporters in Qatar. The majority of people were horrified when he was selected to play against Wales in the last group game because they thought the Liverpool captain represented Gareth Southgate’s purportedly overly cautious tactical approach. Henderson, however, made a strong effect right away, giving Jude Bellingham more freedom to do what he does best simply by being there. Henderson is frequently the loudest player on the field, at least when wearing an England jersey, even though he is rarely the most gifted player.
Even over the constant drum beat here at Al Bayt Stadium, his voice was heard. The first time it was drowned out was when he slid in the decisive first goal to draw a shout from the same supporters who had been complaining about his continued inclusion in Southgate’s starting lineup. It’s time to show the recognition that has been withheld from England’s second-oldest World Cup goal scorer for far too long. Hendo is quick to correct you when you make a mistake on the field, as Foden later remarked. He is a captain and a leader, therefore I don’t mind.
Jude Bellingham:
The absurd standard of expectation Bellingham has now for himself makes it almost shocking when he isn’t spectacular. There was undoubtedly a sense of surprise when he was underwhelmed in the dull draw with the United States on matchday two. There were many rumors that he would even be benched or given a break for the meeting with Wales. Bellingham, though, is unique. He is the only player of his caliber in England. However, who does? It’s important to keep in mind that this is not typical. He’s merely a teenager right now. The child can still handle everything. He is also astoundingly intelligent.
Southgate said, “I don’t think we could have imagined how rapidly he’d mature. In the past three months, he has advanced to another level. Here, the classic all-action midfielder effectively gave struggling England a 2-0 lead at halftime by setting up both goals with stunning forays forward. Even though we are only in the round of 16, it would be a huge shock if Bellingham didn’t win Young Player of the Tournament. He will also be a contender for the Golden Ball if he continues on this path.
Harry Kane:
Was Kane’s goal, from England’s perspective, the most important event of the evening? It most certainly felt that way. Although Kane had provided assists throughout the group stage, it was clear how much it meant to him and his teammates to end their dry spell in the desert. Despite their offensive prowess, England knows that Kane must be at his best if they are to have any hope of defeating France in the quarterfinals, let alone winning this tournament.
The Tottenham player’s self-confidence will have been much boosted by his decisive finish. At Euro 2020, Kane was only at his best during the knockout rounds; this may happen again in Qatar. Harry, as Saka later remarked, “is inevitable.” He always takes a few stops once he gets moving.
The Losing Side:
Sadio Mane:
The immaculate first 38 minutes at the Al Bayt Stadium must have made Sadio Mane wish he was playing for Senegal. Even though England may have had most of the possessions, the Lions of Taranga were the ones posing the greatest threat to the defense. They had three fantastic entry points. Nothing was taken. And England’s superior group of forwards brutally punished their wastefulness.
Mane’s presence would have helped to balance things out a bit. It’s tough not to speculate about what would have happened if the Bayern Munich player had been healthy and on the receiving end of one of those early opportunities, at least from a Senegalese perspective.
Marcus Rashford:
The Manchester United attacker was helpless to maintain his starting position. Rashford scored twice against Wales to bring his tournament total to three, placing him joint-top of the scoring statistics. The big shame for Rashford now is that he probably won’t play when England plays France in the round of 16 this weekend. Mbappe has since pulled ahead at the top of the charts. No, not right away, at least.
Saka added a polished finish to a spirited effort, and Foden once again stood out, contributing to all three goals and becoming the second-youngest player to provide two assists in a World Cup quarterfinal game since Brazilian legend Ronaldo in 1998. Rashford will resume playing the super-sub position for the time being. A wide player in this brilliant England lineup lives such a life.
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