England versus France. This is the World Cup quarter-final everyone is talking about. Yet there are significant hurdles to overcome first.
Both teams could face lower-ranked opponents in their Round of 16 on Sunday, but this is a World Cup that has produced shock result after shock result. France must first defeat Poland, while England will face African champions Senegal.
They may sit 13 places lower than England in the Fifa World Rankings, but Senegal have a squad full of talent, even without injured superstar Sadio Mane.
“We know we will be favorites in terms of the table but Senegal will be a very dangerous team,” said England manager Gareth Southgate.
“We know a lot of their players who play in the Premier League and all over Europe.”
“We have to try our luck”
Senegal are the pinnacle of African football, ranking first among all teams on the continent and the current holders of the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).
This is their third World Cup final, having also qualified in 2002 when they reached the quarter-finals, and again in 2018 when they were eliminated in the group stage.
BBC Africa’s Babacar Diarra said: “I think the players are inspired by the 2002 generation, the head coach being former Birmingham and Portsmouth midfielder Aliou Cisse, the goalkeeping coach Tony Sylva and other former players close to the team like Lamine Diatta and El Hadji Diouf.
“After dedicating the CAN victory to their elders, and the victory against Ecuador to Papa Bouba Diop, the very first Senegalese scorer in the World Cup, exactly two years after his death, we can say that the spirit of 2002 is inspiring this current team.
“Qualifying for the round of 16 was celebrated for several hours after the game on Tuesday. Now there is confidence in the team despite Mane’s injury. Discussions are ongoing on how to play against the England and what their weak points might be.”
Senegal are an improving nation on the world stage with several players now playing regularly in Europe’s top leagues, including the Premier League.
Chelsea duo Kalidou Koulibaly and Watford’s Ismaila Sarr and Edouard Mendy are among those representing the ‘Teranga Lions’, while Everton’s Idrissa Gueye will miss the game through suspension.
Bayern Munich striker Mane is also not playing. He was kept in the Senegal squad despite being left out of the tournament due to a leg injury.
“We know the English. They play hard and attack well. They have a great team. But Senegal have a chance,” former Senegal international Alassane N’Dour told BBC Sport Africa.
“A lot of Senegalese players are in the Premier League or the Championship. We know English football.
“We deserve to be here and to play this game. We have to make sure we don’t go there just to watch them play. We have to take a chance.”
“It would be a result for history”
Senegal has already caused a stir.
They beat defending champions France in their group in 2002, as well as Sweden in the round of 16.
N’Dour, who was part of the 2002 squad, said the time had come for Africa to prove their capabilities at the World Cup.
“Africa has so many good players and talents. You can’t find a really good team without African players. We are all over the top leagues,” he added.
“It’s time for us to improve. It’s African time and especially Senegalese time. It’s time for us to come back.”
Senegal fan Ousmane, 25, told BBC Sport it would be “the best result ever” if they beat England on Sunday.
“What a moment [it would be] for Senegal. Everyone thinks England will win, but why can’t we win?” Ousmane said.
“We have good players – we can beat mighty England. It would be a result for history. The team would be heroes. We will never forget these players if we beat England.”
Amy, 23, added: “It’s one of the greatest football games I can remember. The reaction at home would be crazy if we won, absolutely crazy.”
Who are the main men?
Kalidou Koulibaly
Chelsea’s experienced centre-back Koulibaly is Senegal’s captain and key man in defence. He played in two World Cups and two African Cup of Nations finals with Senegal. He became the first Senegalese to lift the Afcon trophy, having beaten Egypt in 2021, during which he scored the first penalty in the shootout. He also scored the winning goal in Senegal’s vital group stage win over Ecuador on Tuesday.
Boulaye Dia
Dia is a striker for Italian Serie A side Salernitana on loan from Villarreal. He started all three of Senegal’s group games at the World Cup and scored in the 3-1 win over Qatar. In Mane’s absence, he’s become the main striker and has been a handful so far in the competition.
Abdou Diallo
RB Leipzig centre-back Abdou Diallo, on loan from Paris St-Germain, has built a solid partnership with Koulibaly since his debut for Senegal in March last year. In their World Cup qualifying group, Senegal have conceded only four goals in six matches. However, they are yet to keep a clean sheet in Qatar.
“Senegal has nothing to fear” – analysis
John Bennett of BBC World Service radio
Unfortunately for the African champions, England will not face the strongest possible version of Senegal. It will make a huge difference.
Along with the much-publicized absence of their star man and main attacking threat Mane, their driving force in midfield, Idrissa Gana Gueye, will be missing due to suspension for what should have been his 100th appearance. .
But without these key players, can Senegal still cause problems for England? Without a doubt.
The two full-backs who have stepped in – Youssouf Sabaly and Ismail Jakobs – have had a very good tournament so far, looking solid defensively but also offering a threat going forward.
The main attack hazards are in wide areas. I always thought that this Senegal team really lacked a top class number nine and scoring goals was a problem even with in-form Mane, but Boulaye Dia is proving to be a handful in this tournament.
Senegal are at their best on the front foot. When they looked heavy, trying to crumble to hold a lead or a clean sheet, like in the second half against Ecuador, they paid the price.
Like any international manager, Senegal’s Aliou Cissé has been criticized since taking over in 2015 for his tactics, but you can’t question his record. He led them to the Africa Cup of Nations title and two World Cup qualifiers – maintaining a place in the last 16 for the first time since 2002, when he was captain.
His calm and composed attitude in the locker room and in the technical area seems to rub off on his players and he gives them real conviction. The hangover from the terrible news of Mane’s injury is long gone and they are getting better with every game in Qatar.
England are favorites but after a wonderful 2022 so far, Cissé and Senegal will feel they have nothing to fear.
