Sports
World Cup: England beat Senegal to set up France quarter-final
England face a huge World Cup quarter-final against France after surviving a scare or two on their way to beating Senegal at the Al Bayt Stadium.
Manager Gareth Southgate opted for a front three with Phil Foden on the left, with Raheem Sterling unavailable due to a family matter, but Marcus Rashford’s goals against Wales weren’t enough for him to start. Foden and Bukayo Saka justified their inclusion, though, both playing their part in a 3-0 victory.
Southgate’s team survived an early let-off when Ismaila Sarr fired over from close range, with Aliou Cisse’s side perhaps shading the opening half hour. Just as England fans began to worry, though, they took the lead as Jordan Henderson was on hand to finish off a quick break, and it was two before half-time thanks to Harry Kane.
A nervy opening saw Harry Maguire called into action to halt a dangerous Boulaye Dia run, while at the other end a Jude Bellingham cross worried Edouard Mendy but didn’t find an England head. Dia looked a danger throughout, forcing the first big save from the evening as Jordan Pickford stuck out a big left hand.
Less than 10 minutes later, England had the crucial first goal. Jude Bellingham had found space down the left more than once, and this time Henderson was on hand to tuck the cross away with a tidy first-time finish.
Moments before the half-time whistle, it was two. It came from another break, with Bellingham picking out Phil Foden who fed Harry Kane to calmly rifle past Mendy. Senegal made a triple change at the break as they looked for a way back into the game, but England pulled away in the second period.
There was no way back for Aliou Cisse’s men after Kane’s first-half effort, and instead England extended their lead as Saka sent another Foden delivery beyond Mendy. Here are Mirror Football ‘ s talking points from what ended up being a comfortable win at Al Bayt Stadium.
1. Redemption for Henderson
Jordan Henderson’s inclusion ahead of Mason Mount was one of the big calls made by Southgate. The Liverpool captain is a more experienced head but also arguably a more defensive-minded selection, and one wonders whether a fully-fit Kalvin Phillips might have got the nod in different circumstances.
The selection appeared to be designed to free Jude Bellingham ahead of Henderson and Declan Rice. That’s certainly what we saw early on, with the youngster getting forward to support the front three and forcing fouls from his opponents, and it felt fitting that Henderson’s opener came when he arrived unmarked to meet a cross from – you guessed it – Bellingham.
It was a moment of redemption for Henderson, who missed from the penalty spot as England edged past Colombia at the same stage in 2018. The 32-year-old doesn’t score many goals – this was his first in more than 12 months – but that doesn’t feel like that will matter to him.
2. Kane’s wait is over
Harry Kane’s failure to score in the group stage wasn’t as big a worry for some as it was for others. The England captain was still contributing in other ways, and while he’ll be upset with the first-half chance he missed against Senegal, he quickly put it behind him with his first goal in Qatar.
The first opportunity came just moments after Henderson’s opener, offering the Three Lions a chance to deal what might have been a decisive blow. Unlike his team-mate, though, Kane failed to keep his effort down with only Mendy to beat.
Thankfully, though, it didn’t harm his confidence. Kane has previously shared Jermain Defoe’s maxim that when you miss one chance you’re more likely to score the next, and he never looked like missing his opportunity seconds before the break. Few will even remember that miss now.
3. Southgate’s selections justified
Ahead of the game, pundit Ian Wright recognised Marcus Rashford would be disappointed not to be rewarded with a starting place against Senegal after impressing against Wales. Saka thrived in the opener against Iran, though, and was given another chance in the last 16.
The Arsenal man kept Ismail Jakobs busy early on, while almost punishing some lax Senegal defending. However, his defensive lapse almost allowed Dia to open the scoring, and England’s manager – a defender in his own playing days – won’t have been delighted with what he saw.
Saka wasn’t picked for his defensive acumen, though, and nor was Foden. Southgate will have been delighted to see the pair combine for England’s third goal, and the cushion allowed him the luxury of introducing Rashford and Jack Grealish for the final half-hour.
4. Bellingham shows why he’s a must-pick
Senegal had a couple of nibbles at Jude Bellingham in the first period, suggesting the secret is very much out when it comes to his ability. However, being aware of his threat and being able to stop him are two very different things.
The teenager assisted the first goal, but his role in the second was just as important. Senegal were on the attack just outside England’s box when the Dortmund man pulled off an interception, but one carry and a few second later, the ball was in the net at the other end.
Jude Bellingham has been one of England’s stand-out players during the World Cup
Jude Bellingham has been one of England’s stand-out players during the World Cup ( Image: Phil Harris / Daily Mirror)
Hindsight is 20:20, but it’s bizarre to think that some pre-tournament England XIs didn’t include Bellingham. At this stage, he has to be one of the first names on the team-sheer for whatever’s left of the tournament.
5. Sarr offers Walker an Mbappe-lite test
The pre-tournament injury to Sadio Mane had some playing down Senegal’s chances of even making it out of their group. That they got this far owes a fair amount to Ismaila Sarr, though, and the man showed his threat once again in Al Khor.
The Watford man caused problems with his pace, drawing a foul from with the game still goalless, and reminded England that they couldn’t risk playing too high a defensive line. There are reasons the former Rennes star has been linked with top sides, and it feels odd to see him plying his trade in the second tier.
Walker may have survived this test, but he has a much tougher one in the next round. Kylian Mbappe gave Matty Cash a torrid time in the round of 16, and Walker will need to prove Gary Neville and Rio Ferdinand were right to back him against the tournament’s leading scorer.
England might have looked comfortable when the second half kicked off, but that wasn’t always a guarantee. Pickford’s strong left hand to deny Dia wasn’t the only important let-off, and who knows what might have happened had Sarr kept his effort down with the scores level.
Harry Maguire and John Stones have looked like a good pairing so far. So much so, indeed, that there was no need to switch to a back five for the knockout stages.
France pose a different threat, though, with Didier Deschamps starting Mbappe, Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele in a very attacking XI against Poland. That kind of firepower would be a real challenge for England’s back four, and similar lapses to the ones seen in this game would be unlikely to go unpunished against Les Bleus.
Arsenal put their Champions League disappointment firmly in the past to beat Wolves at Molineux and move back to the top of the Premier League.
Having blown their chance to leapfrog Pep Guardiola’s side six days ago by losing at home to Aston Villa, then been knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich on Wednesday, it was a welcome triumph for Mikel Arteta’s men.
Leandro Trossard’s strike in the last minute of the opening period may not have been the most eye-catching of the Belgian’s career but it was perfectly timed.
It came at the end of a half where Arsenal seemed to have got stuck after a bright start and nearly fell behind to Gary O’Neil’s injury-ravaged side.
The visitors dominated the second half too but were unable to carve out the clear chances that would have allowed them to take the game out of reach.
Captain Martin Odegaard added the second deep into stoppage time at the end of the game, turning in from a tight angle after his initial cross had been blocked.
The result means Arsenal are now a point clear of City, with a better goal difference but having played a game more.
They have the chance to apply some significant pressure to the defending champions when they entertain beaten FA Cup semi-finalists Chelsea on Tuesday.
Tired Wolves’ winless run continues
Wolves’ efforts were recognised positively by fans who stayed behind their team throughout – but when the season draws to a close, how much will they regret allowing Championship Coventry to overturn their injury-time lead in their FA Cup quarter-final at Molineux last month?
A Wembley semi-final this weekend would have lifted a season that has turned into a grind for O’Neil’s squad, who were superb for the first two-thirds of the campaign but now seem affected by a lack of energy and bodies.
Joao Gomes forced David Raya to push his angled first-half effort on to a post and substitute Mario Lemina tested the Arsenal keeper with a second-half shot.
But they were sporadic moments of attacking invention, with Wolves’ best performers being defenders, particularly captain Max Kilman and Toti, who were outstanding at the heart of the home side’s rearguard action.
On-loan Tommy Doyle was industrious for Wolves.
However, they have now gone six games without a win in all competitions, their longest run since the end of the 2021-22 season.
Chairman Jeff Shi has repeatedly stated the club did not bring in reinforcements during the January window because he was not prepared to risk breaking the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules. However, the feeling will linger that the decision cost Wolves and O’Neil a realistic shot at a top half finish.
Trossard strikes the crucial blow
Trossard has been in and out as an Arsenal player since joining from Brighton in a £21m deal in January 2023.
The Belgian has still made more substitute appearances than starts in the Premier League for the Gunners – and when things are not going well, he is an obvious candidate to be replaced.
Yet he scores key goals. Since the beginning of last month alone, he has provided a winner against Porto in the Champions League, an equaliser in the home leg of the quarter-final with Bayern Munich, and now his latest effort – which takes him to 14 for the season in all competitions. Only Bukayo Saka has scored more for the Gunners.
It was a scruffy effort, leaning back and on the stretch to get to Gabriel Jesus’ prodded pass. But it floated right into the top corner, out of goalkeeper Jose Sa’s reach. It changed the complexion of an evening that was starting to get a bit nervy for the visitors, who before that had allowed Wolves back into a game they had initially dominated.
At the end of a tough week, it was understandable Arsenal were not at their free-flowing best.
Still, they had chances. Kai Havertz swivelled neatly inside the area in both halves. However, on each occasion, the German sent his shot straight at Jose Sa.
Declan Rice had four opportunities, including a first-half shot he sent fizzing just wide and an injury-time effort that forced Sa into a decent save. Yet, for all his obvious qualities, the England midfielder is yet to improve his goals output, something he is certainly capable of.
It took Odegaard to finally finish Wolves off with a close-range effort in stoppage time.
Bayer Leverkusen lifted the Bundesliga title for the first time in their 120-year history on Sunday, a 5-0 victory over Werder Bremen breaking Bayern Munich’s 11-year stranglehold on the German top flight.
Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen knew victory would secure the title with five games to spare, but there were no signs of nerves in a dominant performance.
A hat-trick from Florian Wirtz and goals from Victor Boniface and Granit Xhaka extended their unbeaten run to a stunning 43 games in all competitions.
Leverkusen’s maiden title, coming after five second-place finishes in their history, keeps their dream of a remarkable treble alive while shedding their unwanted ‘Neverkusen’ nickname for good.
With 10 minutes to go, the long-suffering fans began making their way to the sidelines and a few jumped the gun, storming the pitch with the match still ongoing.
Leverkusen fans celebrate after the German first division Bundesliga football match Bayer 04 Leverkusen v Werder Bremen in Leverkusen, western Germany, on April 14, 2024. Bayer Leverkusen were crowned 2023-24 Bundesliga champions for the first time on April 14, 2024. (Photo by INA FASSBENDER / AFP)
Leverkusen’s players ushered the fans back and some obliged, albeit briefly, with the stands swiftly emptying on the 90-minute mark as tearful fans made their way onto the grass to celebrate with the players.
Leverkusen are now on 79 points — the best tally after 29 games in German league history — and are 16 clear of second-placed Bayern and third-placed Stuttgart.
The Leverkusen bus arrived at the stadium 90 minutes before kick-off, wading through a sea of fans clad in black and red on the way to the 30,000-capacity BayArena.
Normally known as Bismarck Street, fans had stuck temporary signs saying ‘Xabi Alonso Street’ along the main road in honour of the club’s coach.
Alonso looked ahead to Thursday’s Europa League trip to London to face West Ham, making seven changes to his starting XI and benching stars Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Alex Grimaldo, the latter for the first time in the league this season.
Piero Hincapie, Grimaldo’s replacement, had an early effort at goal saved but it would be the fit-again Boniface, making his first start since mid-December, who put the home side in front.
With 22 minutes gone, Jonas Hofmann was felled in the box by Bremen’s Julian Malatini, with the referee pointing to the spot after VAR urged him to view the contact again on the monitor.
Boniface stepped up and nervelessly slotted the penalty past a helpless Michael Zetterer to send the home fans into raptures.
Hofmann was almost the provider again shortly before half-time, his pass finding Amine Adli who fired against the crossbar.
Bremen started the second-half strongly but their hopes of spoiling the party were snuffed out on the 60-minute mark, Boniface finding Xhaka who unleashed a long-range rocket before slapping his badge in front of the ecstatic home fans.
Wirtz, who came on at half-time for Adli, replicated Xhaka’s effort eight minutes later from almost the same spot on the pitch.
Wirtz added another with seven minutes remaining before sealing his hat-trick in the 90th minute as Leverkusen rid themselves of their nearly men tag in style.
Earlier on Sunday, a 36th-minute goal from Ritsu Doan took Freiburg to a 1-0 win at Darmstadt, pushing the last-placed hosts closer to immediate relegation.
Winless since October and with only two victories all year, the loss leaves Darmstadt dead last, eight points from second-last and 13 points from safety with five games remaining.
Nigeria’s female national football team, Super Falcons have qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Nigeria beat South Africa 1-0 on aggregate to reach the Summer Olympics.
Rasheedat Ajibade scored from the spot in the first leg of the qualifiers in Abuja on Friday.
That goal was enough for the Super Falcons to pick one of Africa’s tickets for the women’s football event of the Paris Olympics as the second leg tie ended goaless in South Africa.
The last time Nigeria’s Super Falcons reached the Olympics was 16 years ago.
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