World Cup 2022: Gareth Southgate says England prepared for penalty shootout in opposition to Senegal in spherical of 16

Gareth Southgate says England are “mentally and bodily” ready for penalties once they host Senegal within the final 16 of the World Cup on Sunday.

England have been concerned in three shootouts since Southgate took cost in 2016. They beat Colombia on the 2018 World Cup in Russia earlier than beating Switzerland within the Nations League a 12 months later.

Though their most up-to-date shootout led to defeat to Italy within the Euro 2020 remaining final summer time, England boss Southgate believes his gamers are able to go far in opposition to the African champions as they intention for a quarter-final place in Qatar this weekend.

“We’re ready. We’ve had a course of that we’ve got adopted,” Southgate stated in his pre-match press convention.

“We’ve received two out of three shootouts and checked out how we will enhance. However in fact there are such a lot of different elements that we’ve got to unravel.

“We intention to win the sport in 90 minutes and keep away from further time and penalties. But when we have to go additional than that, we’ve got to be prepared mentally and bodily. I believe we’re.”

Southgate: We’ve to enhance from stalemates

As England head into the knockout levels, Southgate additionally admitted his aspect want to enhance their objectives from set items.

They scored six set objectives in seven video games 4 years in the past in Russia, two of which led them into each the quarter-finals and semi-finals. England, who’ve scored 9 objectives in whole to date in Qatar, have solely managed two from set items.

Requested if they’d paid extra consideration to them forward of Sunday’s recreation, Southgate stated: “Not more than we usually do.

“We have not been as efficient from set items as we’d have appreciated to have been but, so extra enchancment is unquestionably wanted from us on that.

“Set-pieces and even throw-ins, these little particulars, each crew on the planet is attempting to get higher and higher on a regular basis.”

Kane: My foot is bettering day-to-day

Talking alongside Southgate was England captain Harry Kane, who revealed his foot “feels advantageous” after struggling a knock within the second half of England’s Group B opener in opposition to Iran.

The 29-year-old was substituted shortly after the heavy problem within the 6-2 win however rapidly recovered to start out in opposition to the USA and Wales as England completed prime of their group.

Kane, who’s but to attain in Qatar, admits he feels match and sharp and hopes to interrupt his duck in opposition to Senegal on the Al Bayt Stadium.

“My foot feels good. There are not any issues in any respect and it is getting higher day-to-day,” he stated.

“I’d like to be sitting right here with two or three objectives however the group stage has been going effectively. Minute-wise it hasn’t been too robust.

“Once you have a look at the numbers, the video games have not been too bodily. I really feel actually good, match and sharp coming from the Premier League schedule.

“I really feel as match as I am going to ever really feel, and I believe I have been enjoying effectively.

“Objectives are what I shall be judged on probably the most, however I’m a peaceful particular person and I all the time really feel like doing my finest for the crew. Hopefully I can get out of the aim tomorrow.”

Dier: Shootout win over Colombia broke down psychological limitations

Eric Dier insists England are prepared for a World Cup shootout in Qatar after they broke “psychological limitations” by beating Colombia on penalties 4 years in the past.

Victory within the final 16 in Russia was England’s first in a World Cup at their fourth try.

The Colombia victory, through which Dier scored the decisive effort after goalkeeper Jordan Pickford had saved beautifully from Carlos Bacca, has been hailed as a watershed second by Tottenham’s defenders.

“There are ifs, buts and maybes there aren’t,” he stated.

“I really feel like that World Cup, it is exhausting for me to say as a result of I used to be concerned, however I felt in that recreation we broke down quite a lot of psychological limitations and stereotypes that exist in English soccer round issues like knockout video games and penalties and to play.in opposition to that form of opposition as effectively.

“I believe that recreation I bear in mind it felt on the time prefer it was a weight off our shoulders and I believe you noticed that within the subsequent recreation in opposition to Sweden (within the quarter-finals).

“Nobody was speaking about us profitable and that recreation was a second the place all of us felt we had overcome some obstacles and now we have been free to simply play and among the weight of historical past had been taken off our backs.”

Maguire: The followers have been nice, I am in a superb second

Harry Maguire says he comes into the Senegal match at a “good second” – having re-established his place as one in every of England’s key gamers after three constructive group stage video games.

Regardless of barely that includes for Manchester United for the reason that begin of the home season, Maguire has helped England maintain back-to-back clear sheets in opposition to the USA and Wales at this World Cup.

Regardless of dealing with backlash from followers for his pre-tournament shows for membership and nation, Maguire – who attended main tournaments with England as an identical fan as lately as Euro 2016 – says he has all the time felt the help of England supporters.

“I am in a superb second, three good video games as a bunch however as a person as effectively,” Maguire instructed me Sky Sports activities Information on the eve of the Senegal match.

“The followers have been good to me ever since I made my debut, 51 caps later they usually’re nonetheless chanting my title. I do know the England followers, I’ve adopted the crew all my life and been within the stands with them, signing and chanting.

“I understand how passionate they’re they usually’ve been nice with me since I made my debut. They provide me quite a lot of perception, confidence and motivation to verify I am a hit for my nation.”

Maguire says he and his England team-mates is not going to take Senegal with no consideration on Sunday night time, with the defender insisting the African Cup of Nations champions have “harmful gamers”.

“They’re a superb crew – robust opposition,” stated the centre-back. “They’re used to profitable, particularly lately.

“The mentality that they’ve – you noticed how they received the job finished in opposition to Ecuador. They have been efficient with the ball and have good and harmful gamers.

“I have no idea what [England] followers say or suppose, however we positively will not underestimate them. We all know how robust it’s.”

On England’s World Cup possibilities, Maguire added: “Expectations have risen, for positive. Going into the 2018 World Cup we wished to do effectively and had good perception in ourselves as a bunch however we did not anticipate to win the match.

“This World Cup is so robust and has some nice groups in it. However we really feel we’re one in every of them and we’ve got a chance to make historical past once more.

“We all know will probably be robust and also you want them massive moments and massive objectives in video games, particularly in knockout soccer. However we’ve got gamers who can ship that second.”

England’s potential path to the World Cup remaining

Spherical 16 – Sunday 4 December
England in opposition to Senegal – Kick-off 19.00

Quarter-final – Saturday 10 December
England in opposition to France or Poland – Kick-off 19.00

Semi-final – Wednesday 14 December
England in opposition to Morocco/Spain/Portugal/Switzerland – Kick-off 19.00

Final 16 video games

Saturday, December 3
Netherlands 3-1 USA
Argentina 2-1 Australia

Sunday, December 4
France (Winner of Group D) vs Poland (Second in group C) – Kick-off 15.00
England (winner of group B) vs Senegal (Second in group A) – Kick-off 19.00

Monday, December 5
Japanese (Cinners in Group E) vs Croatia (Second in group F) – Kick-off 15.00
Brazil (winner of group G) vs South Korea (Second in group H) – Kick-off 19.00

Tuesday, December 6
Morocco (winner of group F) vs Spain (Second in group E) – Kick-off 15.00
Portugal (winner of group H) vs Switzerland (Second in group G) – Kick-off 19.00