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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Daniel Harris (now) and Will Magee (earlier)

World Cup 2022: news and buildup to France v Poland and England v Senegal – as it happened

Senegal England France Poland
Al Bayt Stadium is ready and waiting for fan s an d players to arrive for England v Senegal in the World Cup last 16.
Al Bayt Stadium is ready and waiting for fans and players to arrive for England v Senegal in the World Cup last 16. Photograph: Eddie Keogh/The FA/Getty Images

And that concludes the blog. Thanks all for your company and comments, now join Rob Smyth for France v Poland. Enjoy!

“Not exactly a classical back four ,” emails Ben Dunn, “but Parma circa 1999, Canavaro, Sensini, Thuram in front of Buffon – pretty solid. AC Milan with Tassotti, Baresi, Maldini, and Costacurta were a difficult bunch to score against too, although I did like Nesta when he came in.

No lies here.

In fairness, we’ve all done it.

Elsewhere, in League 1, Wycombe lead Portsmouth 2-0. Here’s the former’s manager, Gareth Ainsworth, who appears to have come to the game straight from the discotheque.

gareth ainsworth dressed unlike most footbal managers

In the WSL, Man City lead Brighton 2-0 after 19 minutes, and Chloe Kelly is wreaking havoc.

Coming to the Premier League very soon:

Not a back four, but Bergomi, Gentile, Scirea, Collovati, Cabrini must’ve been pleasant to encounter, and Vogts, Beckenbauer, Schwartzenback, Breitner is also nice.

“Best back four,” says David Watton. “Am I a maniac for thinking Neville, Rio, Terry, Cole has to be in with a shout? With Woodgate, Southgate, Ledley King, Sol Campbell and, er, no right-backs or indeed left-backs on the bench? Solid. Can’t really argue against the classic Dixon, Adams, Bould, Winterburn either.”

That England one should’ve been up there, but I suppose didn’t do enough when it had to – maybe, had Ferdinand been, er, available for Euro 2004, that’d be different. But the strength in depth was incredible. Another good domestic one is Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, likewise Ferreria, Carvalho, Terry, Cole.

Back to our sub discussion, Adam Bateman tweets thusly: “Casey Stoney had the right idea, to call them ‘game changers” rather than subs, because that is exactly what they are.”

Casey Stoney has a lot of right ideas. When Gareth Southgate turns it in, I’d love for her or Emma Hayes to take the job, if they were up for it.

Earlier, I beseeched for footage of Almería v Hearts and you’ll be ecstatic to know that the internet hasn’t let us down.

I think I preferred it when Thuram held the record.

On which point, is that back four – Thuram, Desailly, Blanc, Lizarazu – the best we’ve ever seen? Panucci, Baresi, Costacurta, Maldini is up there, but can’t think of too many others.

I’m really pleased Ousmane Dembélé is getting into the France side on a reg. He has the raw materials to be one of the most devastating players in the game, and now he’s saying fit, we’re beginning to see that. The first time I saw him play, in pre-season friendly for Dortmund v Man United, I thought he’d be a superstar, and though it’s not yet happened, he’s still got time.

The teams for that one:

France: Lloris, Koundé, Varane, Upamecano, T.Hernández, Tchouaméni, Rabiot, Dembélé, Griezmann, Mbappé, Giroud.

Poland: Szczesny, Bereszynski, Glik, Kiwior, Cash, Krychowiak, Zielinski, Szymanski, Frankowski, Kaminski, Lewandowski.

Updated

Rob Smyth’s France v Poland blog is live…

…we’re an hour 15 away from World Cup FootballTM!

I said earlier that Marcus Rashford is a really good sub…

Back to today’s first game, it’s hard but not impossible to see a way for Poland. France have been impressive, it’s true, but it’s also true that mainly, Kylian Mbappé has been impressive. If he’s off it, or if he can be crowded out, with Robert Lewandowski up front and Piotr Zielinski out wide, Poland are in the game. That they’ve only scored against Saudi can’t be ignored – they’re big outsiders – but they’ve a puncher’s chance if France are off it.

Updated

In whose countenance have you felt something similar? I’ve got Eric Cantona, my hero, and Denis Law, my dad’s hero.

But I’m going to interrupt because I’m just watching footage of Tite speaking about Pelé, saying he’s the only person whose presence caused him to shake. He calls him “the human representation of health,” which is lovely. I wrote the other day that in 1958, he incarnated youth forever, and it’s great that the news on him has improved.

We’ve not really chatted about France v Poland, so let’s! To kick-off, here’s our briefing.

“Second best random duet on the internet,” emails Mark Hooper. Glorious!

Everything that no one wants to see. Video footage please!

Senegal are, though, a good and settled side. But if you’re pushing me, I’d say that the absence of Cheikhou Kouyaté and Idrissa Gueye tips the balance strongly in England’s favour.

Senegal, meanwhile, are enjoying life. What a shame Sadio Mané isn’t with them.

Sky have heard, and Talksport are reporting, that it’s Saka on the right and Foden on the left for England. I’m a little surprised by that – of the four wide attackers, I thought Foden was the least likely to start. But he’s a brilliant player, probably the best of them, and my guess as to the rationale? He wants the width kept, so a natural left-footer on the left, and knows Rashford is fantastic sub.

Which puts me in mind of one of the greatest videos on the internet. There aren’t many tunes that feature on every party playlist I ever make but this is one – and what a moment at the end.

I just watched this and Jimmy Somerville’s You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) came on. I was momentarily extremely impressed, but turned out it was an ad on SSN. But if anyone knows Dhr Noppert, please do pass on my suggestion.

Little newsline on a player not in England squad, who should be in the England squad.

To be clear, that’s not a criticism of Gareth Southgate – Sancho hasn’t done anything like enough to demand inclusion. But his ability is such that he should’ve made himself an automatic choice and this seems like a sound move from for him – he has all the skills already, so doesn’t need games, he needs to get stronger and faster.

Tom Farrell’s Vase ruse is going down well! Here’s Gerry Carr: “China, India and eh, Ireland finally find a competition suited to their lack of talents. The World Cup has finally stumbled on the ideal format and numbers. The Vase gives the opportunity to retain it and ‘grow the game’. Would also make the 3/4/5 spot in qualifying worth fight for. Win. Win. Win.”

The phrase “grow the game” always makes me think of a rapper in a plant pot.

Updated

Back to USA, I think they’ve the germ of a really useful side. I think Brendon Aaronson is going to be a very good player, Gio Reyna will improve, likewise Tyler Adams. They need to find a reliable scorer, but I’m optimistic they’ll be decent in their home competition, four years from now.

It’s Matt Jarvis! He thins are going to win.

Can you tell who it is yet?

matt jarvis looking moody

I was in the away end that night, and I’d not have a clue.

A clue: one cap, v Ghana in 2011…

Competition time: Sky Sports News are interviewing a “former England winger”. Can you guess who?

Here are Aaron Timms’ thoughts on USA’s elimination.

“Just seen the comments today suggesting a Vase tournament as a second tier World football competition,” emails David McMahon. “Surely it should be Saucer rather than Vase: cup and saucer goes together so much better doesn’t it? (or is that too parochial a view?)”

I’m not sure – I get the rationale, but it might be a bit similar to Plate, which is very rugby union.

“A Fifa Vase/Shield/Trophy/Plate would be amazing in the ‘North’ of England across Brum, Manchester and Liverpool, Newcastle,” reckons Hugh Molloy. “Eight groups of four with two stadia in each location hosting two groups each. Easy peasy. Also, if the English FA wanted to really stick two fingers up to Fifa and receive endless goodwill, they would just do it off the books and call them ‘friendlies’ and just put in an under-21 team themselves as hosts. Zero infrastructure to be built, all four home nations there, uber-cheap tickets, a festival of football. It would be a blast.”

You had me until the insertion of the u21 sides, which gives us a problem of sporting integrity. I get the logic, though – I’m not sure there’d be sufficient local appetite without them – so think we need to let countries participating host, as per the original plan.

Oh Arséne. I wish I was more surprised by this than I am, but it’s been on the cards for a while, sadly.

The link to the full chat is here.

My colleague, Jason Rodrigues, emails with news of a classic match report:

“Senegal made an impressive World Cup debut at Korea/Japan in 2002, famously beating defending champions France in a group match before narrowly losing to Turkey in the quarter finals, conceding an extra-time golden-goal.

Kevin Mitchell for the Observer reported from the Osaka Nagai Stadium: ‘Turkey soaked up what Senegal had to offer, which was sporadically spectacular through the quick feet of El Hadji Diouf...when the Turks struck, though, it was sudden and clinical, four minutes into golden-goal extra time.’

“El Hadji Diouf, bound for Liverpool, said: “We gave it everything we had, but that’s what God wanted. Turkey deserved it but the luck was with them. We leave with our heads high. We had nothing to lose and we are going to try to keep this team together, to keep the same mentality.”’”

The full report is here:

image of the observer sport front page after turkey beat seegal

Goodness me, Ilhan Mansiz is a name I’ve not heard in a minute.

More generally, I can’t say I’m loving a lot of the telly so far. I’m sure there’s nostalgia bias and also football overkill, but the commentators we have now don’t, to me at least, seem close to Barry Davies, John Motson and Brian Moore. I’m glad we’re getting some Clive Tyldesley, though – I’ve not a clue why he’s been overtaken by various others – but wish we had some better co-commentary than we’re getting.

She’s not mentioned in the piece, but hold tight Pien Meulensteen who I think is doing a great job.

“Tried this with Rob Smyth earlier in the week, but as it was the dying moments of Croatia v Belgium, probably wasn’t the right time,” begins Tom Farrell, who’s about to pitch us the Fifa Vase. “Here’s the proposal: as an alternative to World Cup expansion, how about a second tournament for the 32 teams who filled the next 32 places in qualification - the Fifa Vase! Today there are 211 Fifa members. About eight of them have a realistic chance of winning a tournament. The Vase would give the players and fans of solid mid-tier football nations the chance to compete in a meaningful, global competition that they can actually dream of winning. There’s loads of other advantages: if could be hosted on a smaller scale, which would again mean that countries who could never host a tournament otherwise could get involved. And it would help grow the game without watering-down the actual World Cup. The winners would qualify for the next World Cup of course. Easy! Time for a Guardian campaign....”

In a sense, the rationale isn’t dissimilar to that of the Nations League, which is mainly about making friendlies less unwatchable but also gives countries unused to challenging for trophies the sense of movement. I guess I can’t see anything wrong with the plan, though it might be a logistical struggle given potential hosts and varying season timetables. However, the Manchester Guardian campaign space has already been seized by my plan for a London World Cup,

I can’t always say the same about his teams, but Louis van Gaal is absolute box office. I’d not bet on it, but at the same time, I’d not be at all surprised if they found a way by Argentina, by smothering midfield and snaffling a goal.

Southgate also has a choice to make at right-back and in midfield. I’d be surprised if Kyle Walker didn’t keep his place, not just because of today, but because if England progress, they could well face France next and he’s clearly the best available option to mark Mbappé. We can safely assume Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham will start, but alongside – or in front – of them will be someone else. Mason Mount is another Southgate favourite and with good reason. But I’d be very tempted to insert Kalvin Phillips, because if he makes up the trio England should be able to out-physical anyone, and also keep the ball and create.

Updated

Now that you ask, I’d probably have gone with Foden on the right, ultimately because I think he’s just a little bit better, and a little more of a goal-threat. But it’s a great problem to have and, assuming it is Saka, it makes me wonder if it’ll be Sterling not Rashford on the left, for that same reason of loyalty. This too would be understandable – and Rashford is, it shouldn’t be forgotten, a brilliant sub – he’s been great off the bench for Man United, over a fair period, and having to handle his pace and aggression after 60 minutes chasing about does not sound a lot of fun.

Sky are reporting that Bukayo Saka is expected to start for England tonight, which I guess that’s unsurprising because he’s brilliant. But it also reflects a manager who is loyal, perhaps to a fault, when it comes to players who’ve done well for him, and I also wonder if he thinks Saka’s ability to defend is worth something.

In similar vein and prepared in honour of Ghana v Uruguay, here’s a playlist of absolute, stone-cold, steaming hot, complete and utter Ghanaian bangers:

And this!

Ah, that didn’t work, so let’s try this:

I have a teenage niece – hi Amelia! – which I don’t mention for your information, but to explain to the perplexed why I’m aware of TikTok gold like this.

Updated

Also going on, a prime cut of Bazball:

Will mentioned Lisandro Martínez below, so let me say this: I have not a scooby why Lionel Scaloni, or anyone else, would pick Otamendi or Romero ahead of him. I think the latter could develop into a very serious operator – and he’s pretty good now – but he won’t be at Martínez’s level till he has Martínez’s discipline, I’d say. I guess I also thought Martínez was a strange exclusion given he came in and played well in the Mexico clean sheet; I wonder if he’ll keep his place now, after last night’s terrific last-ditch challenge.

Morning all! What a day this is going to be! Football always wins, doesn’t it?

Time for a cup of tea, is it? Ah, go on then. Daniel Harris will take the reins now. He knows his live blogs, does Daniel. You’re in good hands.

Conducting a technical briefing on the group stage, Arsène Wenger has suggested that it may well be coming home. “England has learned a lot, been in the last four. England looks to be a team that is now at the peak to deliver. It has learned and is still a young team.”

Arsène Wenger and Jürgen Klinsmann talk tactics
Arsène Wenger and Jürgen Klinsmann talk tactics. Photograph: Rungroj Yongrit/EPA

It wasn’t a bad World Cup campaign for the USA, even if they’ll be disappointed not to have gone further. Here’s the post-mortem on their last-16 exit.

Updated

Jack Torcello has something to add. “From pretenders to contenders – as Klinsmann said, a lot of the American players are playing this season for Champions League teams (Chelsea, Juventus) whereas not so in the past!”

We have our first bit of email correspondence, in the form of a short poem from Kurt Perleberg. “In 2022 the USA were World Cup pretenders. In 2026 the USA will be World Cup contenders.” Thought-provoking.

Argentina have also been celebrating after beating Australia 2-1. Lisandro Martínez, who came on as a second-half substitute for the Albiceleste, has tweeted: “Proud of this group. What passion, united as always we keep moving forward!”

Having secured a spot in the quarter-finals, Van Gaal has also been talking up the Netherlands’ hopes of winning the tournament. “I think we have big chances here,” he said. “We still have three matches to go. I’ve been talking about this for a year. We can become world champions – not that we will – but we can. I am talking about team bonding, how we can build the strongest possible team and I derive pleasure from the group of players and, of course, performances and results.”

Seasoned Louis van Gaal watchers will have enjoyed his reaction to the Netherlands’ 3-1 win against the USA yesterday. Not only did he give Denzel Dumfries, scorer of his side’s third goal, “a big fat kiss” in his post-match press conference, he also danced through the team’s hotel lobby with all the rhythm of an eccentric uncle in the last hour of a wedding.

Looking for a bit more background on Senegal, before they take on England later on? Here’s Ed Aarons’ scouting report.

In more unwelcome news, researchers have warned that mass gatherings in pubs and at home as people follow England’s progress in Qatar could lead to a rise in Covid infections. They have pointed to a similar effect during Euro 2020, with Professor Christophe Fraser, an epidemiologist at Oxford University, saying: “It was a much bigger event in terms of mixing people and spreading the virus than the celebrations we had at Christmas that year. That suggests that a key factor in influencing infection rates this year will be England’s performance during the World Cup.”

Jesus has posted a message of his own, addressing his younger self. It reads: “If there was a timeline and I could see you and tell you something, I would say ‘Gabriel, you are a winner’. Thank you to everyone who sent messages of support and affection.”

According to SporTV in Brazil, Gabriel Jesus could be facing three months on the sidelines with the knee injury which has brought his World Cup campaign to a premature end. Unsurprisingly, Arsenal fans have their heads in their hands.

Beyond the football

Even as we delve deeper into the knockout stages, what’s going on off the field at this World Cup is, in many ways, much more pressing. Here’s the latest.

In Deptford, south-east London, there’s a generational divide in the local Senegalese community over who to support. “Senegal represents home and I think they’ll win,” says Ndene Ndiaye. “But my children were born here and they’re English supporters all the way.”

Preamble

Welcome to another day of Qatar 2022, the tournament which continues to plumb new depths. The first game today is, of course, France against Poland, aka the valiant-Napoleonic-cavalry-charge derby. Who will win the battle of the strikers, Kylian Mbappé or Robert Lewandowski? There’s another game on, too, possibly – let us find our notes, they must be here somewhere – ah yes, England against Senegal. Will it come home? Won’t it? The age-old question. And are England even any good? Here’s Jonathan Wilson with the answer.

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