CNN
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Sunday’s spherical of 16 fixtures function the 2018 World Cup winner, the present African champion and one of many Euro 2020 finalists.
First up, reigning World Cup champion France faces Poland on the Al Thumama Stadium within the early fixture earlier than arguably the spotlight of the day as England meets Senegal on the Al Bayt Stadium.
Euro 2020 finalist England is available in as heavy favorites having reached the World Cup semifinals in 2018.
Historical past would additionally appear to favor Gareth Southgate’s group. England has confronted African opposition 20 instances, together with seven World Cup matches, and has but to lose.
Though African nations have misplaced eight of their 9 World Cup knockout spherical video games towards European sides, the lone exception was one which featured Senegal’s present supervisor, Aliou Cisse.
The 46-year-old Cisse performed for Senegal in its victory over Sweden on the 2002 World Cup to achieve the quarterfinals, just some video games after having crushed 1998 winner France within the match opener.
And, in accordance with assistant supervisor Regis Bogaert, Cisse has been tapping into that have forward of Sunday’s recreation.
“When he talks he makes use of knowledge and his personal experiences,” Bogaert advised reporters, per Reuters. “He was a part of that nice group in 2002 and I believe the group actually trusts him due to that have he had as participant.
“Beating England could be an amazing achievement, I don’t understand how necessary it might charge in comparison with the victory in 2002, that was necessary as effectively.
“If we will beat a group like England it sends out a really robust message concerning the progress we’ve got made.”
Senegal might be with out key midfielder Idrissa Gueye, who’s suspended following two yellow playing cards within the group stage, and star attacker Sadio Mané, who was dominated out for the Lions of Teranga forward of the match with a knee harm.
Senegal may be with out Cisse, who has come down with an sickness.
“He (Cisse) has been sick for a few days now and he allow us to take cost of coaching yesterday clearly together with his directions,” Bogaert advised reporters.
“Hopefully tomorrow he’ll have the ability to come and be on the bench with the gamers however we’re certain at 10 p.m. he might be there with the group.”
The qualification of Senegal and Morocco for the final 16 of Qatar 2020 marked simply the second time that two African group have reached the knockout phases.
“The end result of the group stage exhibits the extent to which extra international locations have acquired the instruments to compete on the highest degree,” stated FIFA’s Chief of World Soccer Improvement Arsène Wenger.
“That is the results of higher preparation and evaluation of the opponents, which can be a mirrored image of a extra equal entry to expertise. It is vitally a lot in step with FIFA’s efforts to extend soccer’s competitiveness on a worldwide scale.”
England completed prime of its group, twice profitable convincingly towards Iran and Wales and drawing with the US Males’s Nationwide group.
Though star striker Harry Kane has but to attain for England, Southgate’s group has nonetheless scored 9 objectives in these three matches, with notable contributions from Marcus Rashford, Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka.
“Senegal might be robust,” Southgate stated, per Reuters. “They’re very effectively organized, they’ve acquired lots of good particular person gamers enjoying in massive European leagues and their expectations now will rise.”
In Sunday’s first recreation, France will face Poland for a spot within the final eight in Qatar.
France, who booked its ticket for the knockout phases after two wins in as many video games, regarded spectacular through the group stage, regardless of accidents piling up.
It faces a Poland facet spearheaded by Robert Lewandowski, the nation’s all-time prime goalscorer.
Nonetheless, France coach Didier Deschamps says Poland possess many extra threats than simply the Barcelona striker.
“They’ve needed to defend quite a bit within the group stage they usually defended very effectively. Really they find it irresistible, however they’re not only a defensive group – simply take a look at who they’ve up entrance,” Deschamps advised a information convention, per Reuters.
“However there’s extra. They’ve a spine of gamers with nice worldwide expertise, with Kamil Glik, Piotr Zieliński, Grzegorz Krychowiak and a few kids who’ve proven they had been as much as the duty. They should be right here.”
France vs. Poland: 10 a.m. ET on the Al Thumama Stadium.
England vs. Senegal: 2 p.m. ET on the Al Bayt Stadium.
US: Fox Sports activities
UK: BBC or ITV
Australia: SBS
Brazil: SportTV
Germany: ARD, ZDF, Deutsche Telekom
Canada: Bell Media
South Africa: SABC