World Cup 2022 LIVE: England vs Senegal team news, starting 11 and latest – Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden set to start tonight

The clamour for Foden to start reached fever pitch after the goalless draw with the United States. Southgate was always likely to rotate against Wales anyway but Foden got his start and got his goal – only the third of his international career, his first since a brace on his debut. As with Rashford, Southgate will need his reasons if the Manchester City youngster’s spell in the starting line-up is only a short one.

If there is a case against Foden, it is that he has rarely looked comfortable cutting inside from the right wing, a position that he only seldom plays at City. Foden himself admitted at the start of this tournament that England have seen nothing like the best of him. If he needs to play on the left of the attacking three in order to produce, he faces competition from both Sterling and Rashford.

Of all Southgate’s attacking options, Foden has the greatest versatility to drop into midfield and sees himself playing in that position one day. Yet Southgate is reluctant to start him there, agreeing with Pep Guardiola that there are elements of his game out of possession that have to improve before he can be consistently relied upon in a more central role.

The case for Marcus Rashford

Three goals in just 108 minutes at this World Cup is as good an argument as any for Rashford to start. The Manchester United forward is England’s in-form player after his match-winning display against Wales and, having rebuilt his international career after nearly 18 months of exile, Southgate will need a convincing argument to send Rashford back on the substitutes bench against Senegal.

The biggest question mark over Rashford is whether Sunday’s last-16 clash will suit his style of play. The 25-year-old was struggling to make an impact in England’s final group outing until his spectacular free kick changed the pattern of the game, forcing Wales up the pitch and creating the space in behind in which he can thrive. Rashford is at his best when a game is stretched.

As Sterling’s main rival for the left-wing role, Southgate may decide not only to count on the Chelsea winger’s greater experience but also his superior link-up play and ability to play through low blocks. It would be harsh on a player who could not have done more to retain his spot in the line-up. Rashford might have to hope that his goals are compelling enough a reason to keep his spot.

The case for starting Raheem Sterling

For the most part during Southgate’s reign, it has been Sterling and Kane in the attack plus one other. Together, the pair are responsible for a third of the goals scored under Southgate and theirs is a symbiotic relationship. Sterling’s seven assists for Kane is the most any England player has provided for another this century. Kane – increasingly more of a creator – returned the favour against Iran, setting up Sterling for England’s second.

Whenever Sterling’s importance to England is questioned, he seems to serve up a reminder of why he has consistently held down a starting place. At Euro 2020, as momentum was building behind the other attacking options at Southgate’s disposal, he was England’s outstanding performer and one of the players of the tournament. Sterling has already scored at this World Cup from a game and a half’s worth of minutes. That’s hardly just cause to be dropped.

Yet that goal against Iran was only his second in 15 games for club and country. There are caveats to his lack of form – his change of club, the club’s change of manager and sometimes a change of position to left wing-back under Graham Potter – and it is nothing that Sterling has not come through before. Southgate’s faith in Sterling is total as one of the leading figures of his time in charge but a recent lack of consistency in front of goal weakens his case to start.

Defeat for England tonight would be seen as a failure given the squad at Gareth Southgate’s disposal.

Having taken the nation to the semi-finals in Russia and the final of Euro 2020, he came under pressure for the first time during a winless run of six Nations League fixtures earlier this year.

Southgate’s contract runs to 2024 but he may decide – or the decision may be taken – that a last-16 exit here would spell the end of a successful tenure.

Gareth Southgate says his team are mentally and physically ready for another penalty shoot-out – and he would not hesitate to ask Marcus Rashford or Bukayo Saka to take a spot-kick at the World Cup.

The national team’s penalty problems down the years are well documented, with all three World Cup shoot-outs ending in defeat before a success at the expense of Colombia in Russia four years ago.

England followed that by winning bronze on spot-kicks at the Nations League finals against Switzerland in 2019, only for penalties to prove their undoing in last year’s European Championship final.

Jadon Sancho, Rashford and Saka failed with their attempts in a heart-breaking loss that Southgate is confident the team have learned from ahead of Sunday’s last-16 clash against Senegal.

“Well, like every other aspect of our game, we’re prepared and we’ve had a process that we’ve followed,” said the England boss, who missed his penalty in the Euro 96 semi-final defeat to Germany.

“We’ve had three shoot-outs, we’ve won two, so inevitably the one that you don’t get over the line you reflect and you think about how you can improve those processes.

“We’ve done that over the last few months, in particular, but of course, there is so many other aspects to the game that we’ve got to get right.

“We’re aiming to win the game and to avoid extra-time if you can, and to avoid penalties if you can, because you’d like to get a victory in 90 minutes.

“But if we need to go 120 minutes, if we need to go beyond that, then we’ve got to be ready for that mentally and physically. And I believe we are.”

Some housekeeping as England’s last-16 tie with Senegal hurtles ever closer.

In the UK, viewers will be able to watch the game on ITV1 on TV and ITVX online with coverage starting at 6pm.

For those in the US, the match will be broadcast on FS1 in English and in Spanish on Telemundo.

After finishing top of Group B to qualify for the knockout stages, England’s bid to win the World Cup starts to get serious with a place in the quarter-finals on the line.

England had to endure penalties as they beat Colombia at this stage in Russia four years ago, and Gareth Southgate will be hoping there is less tension tonight against Senegal.

In what has been a wildly unpredictable World Cup so far, England’s path to the last 16 was rather more serene than some of the other tournament contenders.

Despite the boos that followed the goalless draw with the USA, England thrashed both Iran and Wales and finished the group stage as the tournament’s top scorers. Marcus Rashford’s double against Wales has given Southgate a selection headache, with Phil Foden also pushing for another start against Senegal.

Here’s Miguel Delaney’s preview:

England are unbeaten against African teams in their 20 encounters but have never met Senegal, who were crowned African champions earlier this year.

Senegal also have several players who ply their trade in the Premier League and Championship, led by skipper Kalidou Koulibaly and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy who both play for Chelsea.

“We’ve been very impressed. We know that they’re African champions – very proud, great competitive spirit, a lot of belief in the team,” Gareth Southgate said.

“They have some excellent individual players who can cause problems – a good structure to the team as well. So I think Aliou has done a fantastic job.

“They were very unlucky not to qualify from the group in Russia (in 2018) and they’ve deservedly done it this time so we know exactly the size of the task ahead of us.”

Declan Rice believes England’s “world-class” squad deserve to be feared at the World Cup.

Gareth Southgate’s side face Senegal in the last 16 on Sunday evening having progressed as winners of Group B.

While a goalless draw against the United States earned the England boss criticism from some quarters, the attacking intent in a 6-2 victory over Iran and a 3-0 win against Wales has caught the eye.

Marcus Rashford’s brace in the Wales game took him onto three in the tournament – level with the leaders in the race for the golden boot – while Bukayo Saka has two goals and both Phil Foden and Raheem Sterling have one apiece.

Captain Harry Kane is yet to get off the mark but has provided three assists and Southgate’s embarrassment of riches in attacking positions could prove the difference.

“I think it’s top, top level,” West Ham skipper Rice said of the England squad in Qatar. “It’s always nice to know you can bring players off the bench who can instantly change the game.

“Whether we’re drawing 0-0 and need a freshen up up front, or we need a change in legs in midfield, or even at the back, we’ve got players that are world class that can come on and change the game instantly.

“Throughout a World Cup you’re going to need that quality. So I think it ranks really high among other squads in the tournament.

“Why should we not be feared? I think other nations will always look at us and think about the quality we’ve got in the squad. If you look at our attacking players, there are world class, unbelievable talents across the board. Across the whole team.

“There are players who have played in the biggest games, won the biggest trophies. We are one of the biggest teams here.”