CNN
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Sunday’s round of 16 matches feature the 2018 World Cup winner, the reigning African champions and one of the Euro 2020 finalists.
Firstly, defending World Cup holders France take on Poland at the Al Thumama Stadium in the opening game before the possibly high point of the day when England take on Senegal at the Al Bayt Stadium.
Euro 2020 finalist England enters as heavy favorites after reaching the World Cup semi-finals in 2018.
History would also seem to favor Gareth Southgate’s team. England have faced African opposition 20 times, including seven World Cup matches, and are yet to lose.
Although African nations have lost eight of their nine World Cup knockout round matches against European teams, the only exception was the one that featured current Senegal coach Aliou Cissé.
Cissé, 46, played for Senegal in their 2002 World Cup win over Sweden to reach the quarterfinals, just a few games after beating 1998 winners France in the tournament’s opener. .
And, according to assistant manager Regis Bogaert, Cissé has drawn on that experience ahead of Sunday’s game.
“When he speaks, he uses data and his own experiences,” Bogaert told reporters, according to Reuters. “He was part of that great team in 2002 and I think the team really trusts him because of that experience he had as a player.
“Beating England would be a great achievement, I don’t know how important it would be compared to winning in 2002, that was also important.
“If we can beat a team like England, it will send a very strong message about the progress we have made.”
Senegal will be without key midfielder Idrissa Gueye, who is suspended after two yellow cards in the group stage, and star attacker Sadio Mané, who was ruled out for the Lions of Teranga ahead of the tournament with a knee injury.
Senegal could also be without Cissé, who has fallen ill.
“He (Cisse) has been sick for a couple of days and yesterday he let us take over training obviously with his instructions,” Bogaert told reporters.
“We hope that tomorrow he can come and be on the bench with the players, but we are sure that at 10:00 p.m. he will be with the team.”
Senegal and Morocco’s qualification for the round of 16 of Qatar 2020 marked only the second time that two African teams have reached the round of 16.
“The result of the group stage shows the extent to which more countries have acquired the tools to compete at the highest level,” said FIFA Head of Global Football Development Arsène Wenger.
“This is the result of better opponent preparation and analysis, which is also a reflection of more equal access to technology. It is very much in line with FIFA’s efforts to increase the competitiveness of football on a global scale.”
England finished top of their group, winning twice convincingly against Iran and Wales and drawing with the US men’s national team.
Although star striker Harry Kane is yet to score for England, the Southgate side have still scored nine goals in those three games, with notable contributions from Marcus Rashford, Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka.
“Senegal will be difficult,” Southgate said, according to Reuters. “They are very well organized, they have many good individual players playing in the big European leagues and now their expectations will increase.”
In the first game on Sunday, France will face Poland for a place in the quarterfinals in Qatar.
France, who booked their ticket to the knockout phases after two wins in as many games, looked impressive during the group stage despite mounting injuries.
He faces a Poland team led by Robert Lewandowski, the country’s all-time top scorer.
However, France coach Didier Deschamps says Poland have far more threats than the Barcelona striker.
“He had to defend a lot in the group stage and he defended very well. They actually love it, but they’re not just a defensive team, just look who they have up front,” Deschamps said at a news conference, according to Reuters.
But there is more. It has a backbone of players with extensive international experience, with Kamil Glik, Piotr Zieliński, Grzegorz Krychowiak and some youngsters proving to be up to the task. They deserve to be here.”
France against Poland: 10 a.m. ET at Al Thumama Stadium.
England vs. Senegal: 2 pm ET at Al Bayt Stadium.
United States: Fox Sports
United Kingdom: BBC or ITV
Australian: SBS
Brazil: Sport TV
Germany: ARD, ZDF, Deutsche Telekom
Canada: Bell Media
South Africa: SABC
