England takes an unbeaten record in seven matches against African nations into its game against Senegal.
Despite no head-to-head matches, there’s some familiarity with Senegal: 10 of the players play club soccer in England, six of them in the Premier League. Senegal forward Sadio Mane of Bayern Munich is out with injury.
“Senegal are a really strong, athletic team, with some really good individual players,” England midfielder Declan Rice said. “They are a really good team. It’s the first time we’ve played them since I’ve been in the set-up and we know it’s going to be a tough test.”
England has won five of its seven previous round of 16 matches, including a 2018 victory over Colombia on penalties. Senegal reached the round of 16 once previously, a win over Sweden in 2002, but its tournament ended in the quarterfinals with a loss to Turkey.
But the African teams have played well this World Cup and Senegal believes it can continue its run in this tournament.
“The message is a strong one,” Senegal assistant coach Regis Bogaert said. “We’ve seen Cameroon can beat Brazil and Tunisia can beat France so we know Senegal can beat England. That’s what we’re aiming for. That’s an important message.”
Senegal coach Aliou Cisse missed Saturday’s pre-match news conference because of illness, and turned Friday’s training session over to his assistants. He plans to be on the sideline at Al Bayt Stadium on Sunday.
England was a semifinalist in 2018 and is looking to reach the quarterfinals in consecutive World Cup tournaments for the first time since 2002 and 2006
“It’s the knockout stages and we want to win. If you don’t win, you go home, but that’s not what we’re aiming for. We want to get to the end of the tournament,” Rice said. “We’re building well and we’re in a nice position, and we’re ready for whatever comes.”
