Team News England vs Senegal: Bukayo Saka set to start in World Cup Round of 16 clash | football news

Bukayo Saka is expected to start for England against Senegal in Sunday’s World Cup round of 16 clash, Sky Sports News has learned.

Saka scored twice in England’s 6–2 World Cup opening group stage victory against Iran, but failed to find the net against the United States in the next game.

The 21-year-old Arsenal winger was then an unused substitute in a 3-0 win over Wales, with goalscorers Phil Foden and Marcus Rashford the favourites.

But Saka will now return to the starting line-up against Senegal on Sunday, as Gareth Southgate’s side look to reach the quarter-finals for the third successive major tournament.

Carra: “Saka’s change shows strength in depth”

Jamie Carragher from Sky Sports:

“What Southgate have with their open four forwards, Rashford and Foden playing the last game with Saka and Sterling playing the previous two games, I don’t think there’s a huge difference to what he does.

“The fact that he can cut and switch shows how much strength in depth he has in those wide areas. I felt like Foden and Rashford were the right ones to go, just because they were so confident in the last game, but then again you go into the first game and you think on how good Sterling and Saka were in that Iran game.

“I’m not shocked or surprised with what he does in the wide areas because we have a lot of quality there. It’s the area in the team where there is real competition for spots.”

Is the defensive mindset the reason?

Rob Dorsett, Senior Reporter for Sky Sports News

“There is no question that Saka has been in brilliant form for Arsenal this season. Saka got the nod against Iran and was man of the match. He brought energy to that attack, but also with a defensive centre-back, and I think that That’s probably what he’s done.” he got the nod today.

“Southgate know they can rely on Saka to bounce back if there is a break, he has the pace and energy to make sure that happens, because this is going to be an athletic Senegalese team.

“However, it’s a big call.”

What does the inclusion of Saka mean for the attacking lineup?

Melissa Reddy, Senior Reporter for Sky Sports News:

“Despite all the talk of an unchanged lineup, Saka is ready to go. So either Phil Foden or Marcus Rashford are expected to miss out.

“The fact that Saka rested in the last match, perhaps it means that this was always planned.

“That leaves a talking point about what Southgate will do in other parts of the attack. Foden and Rashford offer something different – Rashford is direct, but Foden’s grace and dynamism on the ball showed against Wales. But I don’t think there was Many”. complaints about the inclusion of Saka.

“Raheem Sterling is also someone Southgate trusts, and Southgate have never started a knockout game without him – the Sterling-Kane combination has been one of the pillars of his management.”

Reporter’s Notebook: Who else will start for England?

Sky Sports News senior reporter Rob Dorsett:

No doubt most of the team will remain unchanged. What I expect the formation to be: 4-3-3 has worked well for England in the tournament so far, allowing them an extra man in midfield, so I hope it stays consistent.

The back four are likely to be the same, although it’s a toss up between Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier at right-back. Walker could well win that battle: his exceptional pace is a trait Southgate has always valued, although without Trippier in the team, England lose some experience with set pieces.

Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham are safe picks in midfield, and Jordan Henderson could well get the nod before Mason Mount, due to his added experience and stabilizing presence.

We know that Harry Kane will lead the line for England, even though he has yet to score at this World Cup. The captain is not playing at his maximum pace, but he insisted in the pre-match press conference that he is in top form and feels great.

His involvement remains invaluable: three assists equal the most an Englishman has managed at a World Cup since David Beckham more than two decades ago.

So the biggest areas of contention surround England’s wide attacking positions, which have been the subject of much debate since the win over Wales. In truth, long before that game too.

Expect Jack Grealish to remain England’s super sub, so it’s a matter of ‘which two out of four’, with persuasive arguments possible each from Rashford, Foden, Sterling and Saka.

Saka is expected to start, while Southgate said in his pre-match press conference that he is “not sure there is a right or wrong choice” because all four are exceptional and each one of them offers something different. That’s very true.

He also pointed out -correctly- that with five substitutes available, each one of them has the possibility of impacting from the bench.

There is speculation in the mainstream media that because Henderson, Rashford and Foden have done interviews with the media in recent days, they must be in the starting team. I’m not sure the FA or Southgate work like that.

England’s potential path to the World Cup final

Round of 16 – Sunday, December 4
England against Senegal – Start 7pm

Quarterfinals – Saturday December 10
England against France either Poland – Start 7pm

Semifinals – Wednesday, December 14
England against Morocco/Spain/Portugal/Swiss – Start 7pm

Last 16 matches

Saturday December 3
Netherlands 3-1 United States
Argentina 2-1 Australia

sunday december 4
France (Group D winners) vs. Poland (Runners-up of Group C) – Start 3:00 p.m.
England (Group B winners) vs. Senegal (Runners-up of Group A) – Start at 7:00 p.m.

monday december 5
Japan (Group E Cinners) vs. Croatia (Runners-up of Group F) – Start 3:00 p.m.
Brazil (Group G winners) vs. South Korea (Runners-up of Group H) – Start at 7:00 p.m.

tuesday december 6
Morocco (Group F winners) vs. Spain (Runners-up of Group E) – Start 3:00 p.m.
Portugal (Group H winners) vs. Swiss (Runners-up of Group G) – Start at 7:00 p.m.