FIFA World Cup 2022: How England’s competent press contained Senegal to progress to the quarters – tactical analysis

After beating Iran and Wales, and drawing to the USA, England managed to qualify for FIFA World Cup 2022 Last 16 as they faced a tough African side, Senegal. Despite facing some obstacles as Senegal resisted, England, with better quality, managed to win the game by 3-0. This tactical analysis will take the important elements of the game to explain how Gareth Southgate’s side got another victory. 

Lineups

Southgate made two changes after some players impressed in the game against Wales, but also because Arsenal defender Ben White and Chelsea attacker Raheem Sterling had to leave Qatar due to family issues. Hence, Jordan Henderson and Phil Foden came in for the side. They had Jordan Pickford in goal; Kyle Walker, Harry Maguire, John Stones, and Luke Shaw in the defence; Henderson, Delcan Rice, and Jude Bellingham formed the midfield, while Foden, Harry Kane, and Bukayo Saka were the front three.

Senegal played with a 4-2-3-1 on paper and they also had good players, with Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy in goal, his teammate, Kalidou Koulibaly, was one of the defenders in the back four alongside Abdou Diallo, Youssouf Sabaly, and Ismail Jakobs. In midfield, they have Nampalys Mendy and Pathé Ciss. Offensively, the four players were Isamaïla Sarr, Boulaye Dia, Iliman Ndiaye, and Krépin Diatta.