World Cup

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World Cup | Last 16

Dec 4, 2022 at 7pm UK

Al Bayt Stadium

England
3 - 0
Senegal

Henderson (38'), Kane (45+3'), Saka (57')

FT(HT: 2-0)

Koulibaly (76')

World Cup 2022: Why to expect goals for England against Senegal

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 03 December 2022

Ahead of Sunday's World Cup 2022 last-16 clash between England and Senegal, Sports Mole looks at why to expect goals from Gareth Southgate's side.

England will aim to keep their dream of World Cup 2022 glory alive when they take to the Al Bayt Stadium for Sunday's last-16 battle with African champions Senegal.

The Three Lions were widely expected to sail through to the knockout stages as Group B winners, and they did not disappoint, taking seven points from their three fixtures with Iran, USA and Wales.

Being held to a goalless draw by the USA was not the ideal Friday night viewing for those back home, but Gareth Southgate's attacking starlets have demonstrated their talent by hitting Iran for six and putting three past Wales to seal their last-16 place.

Goal-laden performances from the Three Lions are commonplace nowadays, with Southgate possessing the likes of Marcus Rashford, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, Mason Mount, Raheem Sterling and Jack Grealish to accompany ever-present captain Harry Kane.

It should therefore come as no surprise to see Southgate's side make the net ripple more than once on Sunday evening, as the Three Lions have their eyes set on a new national team record for World Cup goals.

Marcus Rashford celebrates scoring for England against Wales on November 29, 2022 © Reuters

England and Spain both hit a joint-high nine goals in their three group games, and the Three Lions need just four more strikes to record their best-ever goalscoring World Cup campaign.

Southgate could therefore break his own record of 12 that he set with England at the 2018 World Cup, and the winners of 1966 also scored an impressive 11 on their way to global domination.

Furthermore, Senegal's recent defensive record does not make for positive reading for the Africa Cup of Nations holders, who conceded at least once in all of their group games with Qatar, Ecuador and the Netherlands.

The Lions of Teranga have now gone 10 games without a clean sheet at the World Cup, and their only shutout at the tournament so far came in their inaugural clash with France in 2002, prevailing 1-0 against the reigning champions before their defence lost its watertight label.

Even though Kane is yet to make the net ripple in Qatar, the Tottenham Hotspur man has set up three of his side's strikes - no England player has ever recorded four assists in a single World Cup campaign - and the likes of Jude Bellingham and Harry Maguire can also provide a goal threat for the Three Lions as they go in search of another quarter-final berth.