Kane on target as England cruise into quarter-final

England put on a dominant performance to beat African champions Senegal 3-0 at Al Bayt Stadium to book a quarter-final showdown against defending champions France in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

First-half goals from Jordan Henderson and Harry Kane set the Three Lions on their way before Bukayo Saka sealed victory in the second half for Gareth Southgate’s side as the 1966 winners look to do better than their performance four years ago in Russia, where they reached the semi-final.

They will return to the same venue to face France on December 10. 

“Really tough. Knockout games are never easy,” Kane said after the match.

“We’ve shown great maturity through the tournament... 3-0 here against a really good side. Mentality was top from the beginning and we took our chances when they came.

“As a striker, scoring goals is what you do, and it’s a great feeling,” said Kane.

“We feel good, we’ve got good players getting forward and we’re solid at the back. A really good day for us.” 

Senegal were clearly missing influential captain Sadio Mane who missed the tournament due to injury. Midfielders Idrissa Gana Gueye and Cheick Kouyate missed the game due to suspension and injury, respectively.

“We just weren’t as good as we wanted to be. We were missing a few players who could have made a difference today. They won a lot of the challenges and one-on-ones and made things tough for us,” coach Aliou Cisse said after the match.

Senegal tested the English defence as Boulaye Dia threatened early on, but couldn't beat the England centre-back pairing of John Stones and Harry Maguire.

Wonderkid Jude Bellingham beat Koulibaly down the left, but no English player attacked the midfielder’s inviting cross with Edouard Mendy.

England found space down the left, and Kane floated another delicious cross into the box, but Saka couldn’t reach the ball.

Harry Maguire, who has had a brilliant run in the tournament, lost the ball just outside the box. Still, Senegal failed to capitalise on the opportunity as Pickford came off his line quickly to trouble Ismaila Sarr, whose touch was too high.

Senegal had their best chance of the match just before the half-hour, but Pickford kept England in the game with a huge save as Sarr won the ball off a Saka stray pass and released Dia, whose well-hit effort was palmed away impressively by the England number one.

Southgate’s decision to start Henderson alongside Bellingham and Declan Rice in midfield gave the Three Lions dominance as the African champions struggled to create chances.

England deservedly took the lead in the 39th minute when Bellingham was played in by Kane on the left, before the Dortmund man picked out an unmarked Henderson who swept home from just inside the box.

Kane should have made it two minutes later, but the Three Lions captain skied his effort from Saka’s pass.

It was all England, forcing the Senegalese defence into errors as a loose Koulibaly pass was picked up by Luke Shaw, who exchanged passes with Bellingham, but Mendy thwarted Shaw’s attempt to cross.

Kane finally scored his first goal of Qatar 2022 just before half-time from a swift counter-attack. Bellingham won the ball in midfield again, beat his markers and found Phil Foden, who played in Kane to send a ferocious finish past the hapless Mendy as both sides headed into the break.

In the second half, substitute Pape Matar Sarr scuffed a shot harmlessly wide, but Senegal continued to make individual mistakes which cost them in the first half.

Matar Sarr was stripped by Rice, who played in Kane, and the Tottenham man found Saka, who blazed wide. Mendy spilt the ball as Kane hit a long-range drive, but the Senegalese goalkeeper recovered quickly with no England player in sight.

Saka put the game to bed in the 57th minute slotting home with a deft touch over Mendy from a Foden cross after Kane had started the move.

Substitute Marcus Rashford almost set up Kane for his brace, but the striker missed the ball by mere inches while stretching.