SENEGAL ARE A 'VERY DANGEROUS' TEAM - AND KNOW THEY COULD WIN
Alistair Bunkall
Middle East correspondent
@AliBunkallSKY
Senegal are not a side to be underestimated.
The West African nation are the current African Cup of Nations champions, and many of the side play for major European clubs, including 11 in England.
Star player, former Liverpool and now Bayern Munich forward Sadio Mane, didn’t make the World Cup because of a knee injury, but the Lions of Teranga still scored goals and encouragingly, for them, from positions all over the pitch.
Gareth Southgate has described them as "a very dangerous team".
This is only their second World Cup, the previous two in 2002 and 2018, and they have reached the quarter-finals once before in Japan, eventually losing to Turkey.
Watch out for Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and club teammate Kalidou Koulibaly, who captains his country.
And in the absence of the injured Mane, there has been a greater expectation placed on the Watford forward, Ismaila Sarr.
His only goal so far has come via a coolly taken penalty, having won the spot-kick himself, and he has the pace and movement to trouble any opposition.
England will go into the match favourites, but Senegal feel the pressure is off them, and know they have the ability to win the match.
Without doubt, Senegal will be the toughest team England have faced in the tournament so far.
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Alistair Bunkall
Middle East correspondent
@AliBunkallSKY
Senegal are not a side to be underestimated.
The West African nation are the current African Cup of Nations champions, and many of the side play for major European clubs, including 11 in England.
Star player, former Liverpool and now Bayern Munich forward Sadio Mane, didn’t make the World Cup because of a knee injury, but the Lions of Teranga still scored goals and encouragingly, for them, from positions all over the pitch.
Gareth Southgate has described them as "a very dangerous team".
This is only their second World Cup, the previous two in 2002 and 2018, and they have reached the quarter-finals once before in Japan, eventually losing to Turkey.
Watch out for Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and club teammate Kalidou Koulibaly, who captains his country.
And in the absence of the injured Mane, there has been a greater expectation placed on the Watford forward, Ismaila Sarr.
His only goal so far has come via a coolly taken penalty, having won the spot-kick himself, and he has the pace and movement to trouble any opposition.
England will go into the match favourites, but Senegal feel the pressure is off them, and know they have the ability to win the match.
Without doubt, Senegal will be the toughest team England have faced in the tournament so far.
