England comfortably defeated Senegal 3-0 and played a highly anticipated duel with France in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Qatar.
An opening goal from Jordan Henderson in the 38th minute was added by Harry Kane with the last first-half action at Al Bayt Stadium on Sunday — Kane’s first goal in the tournament.
Bukayo Saka finished third in the 65th minute.
Senegal had its chances, particularly from Watford striker Ismaila Sarr, but the African champion posed no significant threat to England.
“The team made a very complicated game tonight look uncomplicated,” England manager Gareth Southgate told ITV after the game.
Kane’s goal was his 52nd in an England shirt and places him within one of Wayne Rooney’s all-time goalscorer records. Captain Gary Lineker thus surpassed his record as England’s top scorer in major tournaments with 11 goals.
England were lucky not to concede a goal at the start of the game and Senegal had two good chances ahead of Henderson’s opener. The first big chance fell on Sarr, who hit goalkeeper Jordan Pickford all the way to the ball but shot him over the goalie.
Sarr was also decisively involved in Senegal’s first shot on goal when the striker played it for Boulaye Dia, who hit the goal sharply and forced Pickford into a left-handed parade.
The first half hour was tight and nervous, but England found their feet and after Henderson’s goal, they developed their second-half game into a commanding performance. It looked more like a team chasing their first major title since winning the World Cup in front of a home crowd in 1966.
Jude Bellingham, 19 years old, and 21-year-old Saka both played key roles throughout the game.
“We have some very young players and we think it’s right to give them a chance,” Southgate said. “They’re heading in the right direction and these games are a brilliant life experience for them.”
England’s 12 goals in this tournament are the same as their previous World Cup records when they reached Russia’s semi-finals in 2018. In 1966, they scored 11 goals, including four in the final against the Federal Republic of Germany.
For Senegal, the result, meanwhile, was the end of a successful 2022 run, in which they became champions of the Africa Cup and reached the top 16 of the World Cup.
England’s next game will be on Saturday against defending champions France, also at Al Bayt Stadium.
In their round of 16 against Poland on Sunday, France’s number 10 Kylian Mbappe, 23 years old, scored twice to match 35-year-old Argentinian Lionel Messi’s nine-goal score in the World Cup competition.