Views: 0
Live Reporting
-
England set up France clash
FT: England 3-0 Senegal
Nerves? What nerves?
England are through to the quarter-finals of the World Cup after outclassing African champions Senegal.
Up next?
Oh just a little country called France!
I shall leave you with all the action and reaction from another fine night of following England at a major tournament…
-
‘The acid test’
FT: England 3-0 Senegal
England manager Gareth Southgate on BBC Radio 5 Live: “A very satisfying performance, I think the ruthlessness of the performance was excellent. We struggled a little bit to breakthrough Senegal’s pressure at the start of the game but sometimes you’ve got to move teams and tire them to reap the benefits in the second half, and what we did do well was the pressure that we gave them when they had the ball was excellent.
“I thought Jude Bellingham and Jordan Henderson were excellent in that period in particular.
“Every match you play is a different sort of challenge and a difficult tactical situation to resolve, we’ve stepped up and we are answering those questions. I thought the quality of those moves for our goals were absolutely outstanding and the finishes were absolutely ruthless.
“We have a brilliant tie haven’t we, the two quarter-finals are fabulous. Great football nations with history it couldn’t be more exciting. Our history is not quite as good as the others’ by the way, but we’re really pleased. I’ve just been told this is the first time we have won a knockout game in three consecutive tournaments. So that’s another bit of history that this team is trying to achieve and we’re going to keep trying to do that.
“This is the acid test for us, we know this is a step up from what we’ve had so far. But the team have garnered so much experience in the last few years, they’re playing with confidence and we look threatening. We’re scoring goals and another clean sheet is lovely to see. We’re in a good place but we know the level of the opposition as well.”
-
‘Hendo allows Jude more freedom’
FT: England 3-0 Senegal
Andy Cryer
BBC Sport in Qatar
England manager Gareth Southgate talking in post match news conference: “The biggest thing is his mentality. We have done a lot of work over the years with young players and the mindset makes the difference, the drive, the desire to learn and improve and he has all of that.
“With him, Phil, Bukayo we felt the right moment for all of them and they all stepped up. Jude – with Hendo – really got us into the game. Hendo’s influence is allowing Jude more freedom and he responded to that remarkably well.”
-
Post update
FT: England 3-0 Senegal
-
‘We took our chances’
FT: England 3-0 Senegal
England captain Harry Kane speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live:
“I feel good and hopefully this can start a good run for me personally but also to help the team as well. But as you can see we’ve got people scoring from all positions which is really important when you go into the later stages of a tournament.
“But overall I think it was great for me personally to score but the most important thing was another really good team performance.
“I don’t think it was an easy game, I think it was difficult for the first 30 minutes of the game. We had good possession of the ball but we didn’t quite do too much with it. They were compact and organised and made it tough for us.
“The breakthrough always helps and it was a really good team goal and from there we really pushed on and were ruthless with our presses and our attacks and whenever you score just before half-time it takes the wind out of the sails.
“It was just a really solid performance from us and we took our chances when they came.
“Saturday will be really difficult, France are a great team, reigning world champions, so we know it is going to be a really tough evening. We enjoy this night tonight, we are going to have a couple of days to recover and then we will start preparing for what is going to be a really important game. I think if you are going to win the World Cup, you have to play the best sides in the wold and France are certainly up there.”
-
‘No bigger game than France’
FT: England 3-0 Senegal
England midfielder Phil Foden on BBC Radio 5 Live: “It feels great, everyone is on a massive up, we celebrate tonight and tomorrow it is back to work because are next opponent is very frightening. We will have to be at our best to beat them.
“[Senegal] made it a frustrating game at times. They were physical and quick so it took a bit of time to get into the game and find the spaces. As time passed we tired them around and we opened up space to find Harry [Kane] more and started to hurt them.
“[Jordan Henderson is] massive. When someone is not doing something right on the pitch he is quick to tell you off. I don’t mind that, he is a leader and a captain and he’s definitely got that in his locker.
“It’s a pleasure to play on the field with him, he ups your game and those around you. He’s a really important player for us.
“We all want to play in the biggest games and there’s no bigger game than France. If we’re on form we can create chances and score. We’re looking forward to it, it’s going to be a big challenge.”
-
Get Involved
Tweet using #bbcfootball or Text 81111 (UK standard rates apply)
Anon: Great win for England. Looking at player-for-player, the French team isn’t better than the England team. The problem with the English team is that they respect “big teams” too much. This cost us the Euros.
Anon: I really think the difference today was midfield; we had the bite of Rice and Henderson challenging AND WINNING 50/50 BALLS, and the all round class of Bellingham. Too often there’s no challenges in midfield but tonight was different.
-
England fans ‘can’t wait for the quarter-finals’
The BBC’s Sean Dilley speaks to England fans after their team’s win against Senegal in the World Cup.
-
‘Kane is inevitable’
FT: England 3-0 Senegal
England forward Bukayo Saka on BBC Radio 5 Live: “It doesn’t get much bigger than this tournament.
“All respect to Senegal they are an amazing team and they are champions of Africa so we knew it wasn’t going to be easy.
“But we created chances and knew that once we clicked we would be able to finish them off.
“Harry Kane is like inevitable you know, he was always going to score goals, I was never worried about that. He’s been exceptional for us. He is like the glue of the team the way he links up attacks.
“I think he has a few assists already so it’s not like he isn’t doing anything for us. So I knew he would get his goal and he showed unbelievable composure, because it took him so long to strike the ball, but he managed to do what Harry Kane does and put the ball in the back of the net.”
-
‘Kane’s goal will mean a lot to him’
FT: England 3-0 Senegal
England midfielder Jordan Henderson speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live:
“It was about the team tonight, a really good performance from everyone. We scored some good goals, we defended well, we kept a clean sheet, which was important. I thought it was a real team performance so a good night in the end.
“It’s always nice to get on the scoresheet, it was a good time in the game which is good for us. To contribute, I’m pleased, but the most important thing for us is the win and the performance. I try to give everything for the team and I thought our desire and hunger without the ball was really good tonight. In the end you get the rewards for it.
“I’d imagine that Harry Kane’s goal would mean a lot to him. Of course you want to score goals but his play again tonight was really important for the team. His link-up play, he’s assisted a few goals as well which has been key for us at key moments. When Harry gets chances he scores goals, but he will be pleased to get on the scoresheet I’m sure.
“From our point of view we know we are up against a world-class team with world-class players. It’s a huge, huge test, they’re the current champions. But I believe in the players and believe that if we perform to the level we are capable of we can give them a really good go. Anything can happen so we’ve got to believe and give everything we can in the next one.”
-
‘If you want to win the World Cup you have to beat the best’
FT: England 3-0 Senegal
Andy Cryer
BBC Sport in Qatar
England captain Harry Kane talking at post match news conference: “As a striker scoring goals is what you do and one of the best feelings. I was patiently and thankfully it came today. We have people scoring from all different positions and another great team performance.
“I don’t think it was an easy game, especially the first half hour. The breakthrough really helps and from there we were ruthless and pressed on.
“We enjoy this night and start preparing for a really good game. If you are going to win the World Cup you have to play the best teams and France are up there.
“Jude is a fantastic player, he does everything well. I like Jude a lot, a good person, mature for his age and great leadership skills. All I would say is keep working and keep learning.
“With Raheem and his family, a private matter, but never easy seeing one of your teammates and friends having to deal with something like that. The most important thing is Raheem makes the right decision for him and his family.”
-
Victory hailed as best birthday present by fan
Sean Dilley
Reporting from Wembley
It felt as though the foundations of the Box Park building in Wembley shook when the final whistle sounded.
Reacting shortly after England’s victory. Anusyia says: “We kind of expected that England would do really well but it was really nice to see them.
And it’s a double celebration for her as she also it’s her birthday this week, describing the victory as the “best present”.
“There’s been a lot of crowd pleasing and it has been so much fun to come and watch them.”
Her friend Lizzie says: “I thought it was going to be 3-1 but it’s enough… more than enough.
Copyright: BBC/Helena Rothman -
‘The young players’ progress is phenomenal’
FT: England 3-0 Senegal
England boss Gareth Southgate, speaking to ITV about what pleased him most about the game: “The ruthlessness of our execution, the way the team worked off the ball and without it. In the end we were a but sticky with the ball in the first 25 minutes.
“Senegal had a lot of energy and pressed well. Our best opportunities came from winning the ball off them, Jude and Hendo particularly were outstanding in that aspect of the game.
“Hendo doesn’t get many for us but I think he has been outstanding. He is such a leader. He knits the team together around the camp, he is brilliant. His performance has been top drawer for us.”
On Harry Kane scoring: “For him it stops all the questions. It is important for him and for us.”
On Jude Bellingham: “We have some super young players we feel it has been right to give them their opportunity, Jude, Phil and Bukayo tonight in particularly. They are heading in a really good direction.
“The progress they are making is phenomenal. The team made a very complicated game tonight look straightforward. It wasn’t the case but because of the mentality and attitude we made it look that way.”
On Raheem Sterling: “We have to wait and see. The priority at the moment is family. We will support that and give him as much time as he needs.
“He is going home. I really don’t know. At the moment it is a situation he needs time with his family to deal with. I don’t want to put him under any pressure with that. Sometimes football isn’t the most important thing and family comes first.”
On France: “They are an outstanding team with a phenomenal tournament record and some outstanding individuals. That is a game we have to find our highest possible level.”
-
Get Involved
Tweet using #bbcfootball or Text 81111 (UK standard rates apply)
Totum: 14 more sleeps until England win the #FIFAWorldCup
Pete: England are the best team at this tournament. We just have to believe!
-
Post update
FT: England 3-0 Senegal
England boss Gareth Southgate speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: “I’ve spent some time with Raheem today, he is going to fly home and obviously family at these moments is the most important thing so we want to give him that space and we will see over the next few days how that develops.”
-
Get Involved
Tweet using #bbcfootball or Text 81111 (UK standard rates apply)
Daniel: Well done England, World Cup quarter-finals here we come let France be fearful of England rather than the opposite way around
-
‘The sky is the limit with Bellingham in our team’
Martin Keown
Former England defender on BBC TV
Different class. Best performance I have seen from a midfield player in this competition. The three of them in midfield working together, it really does look good there.
When I look back to the last World Cup… it feels like our midfield has improved most of all and Bellingham and Rice are part of that.
Bellingham is a top level player and we are lucky to have him. With him in the team the sky is the limit.
-
Post update
FT: England 3-0 Senegal
England have reached the quarter-final of the World Cup for a 10th time, reaching this stage twice each under Walter Winterbottom (1954 and 1962), Alf Ramsey (1966 and 1970), Bobby Robson (1986 and 1990), Sven-Goran Eriksson (2002 and 2006) and Gareth Southgate (2018 and 2022).
Phil Dawkes