Even before Sunday’s night’s last-16 tie against Senegal, England fans will be forgiven for having a cursory glance ahead at who they would face in a potential quarter-final and beyond as they dream of ultimate World Cup glory.
Not since 1966 have England managed to win world football’s biggest prize, but they have progressed to the semi-finals on two further occasions - in Italia ‘90 when they lost on penalties to West Germany and most recently in Russia four years ago when they lost 2-1 to Croatia after extra-time.
This time around they’ve sailed into the knockout stages, comfortably beating Iran and Wales and drawing 0-0 against fellow knockout qualifiers USA to finish top of Group B. Their reward for that is Sunday’s second-round clash with Senegal who, despite being the current holders of the Africa Cup of Nations, will start as underdogs against Gareth Southgate’s side.
Read more: ITV pundit Joe Cole jokes he's 'banned' from Cardiff after goal against Wales
Should England progress, they will next play in the quarter-finals on Saturday, December 10 , at 7pm UK time in Al Khor, where their opponents would be France . Didier Deschamps’ men, who won the World Cup in Russia in 2018 and are one of the favourites again in Qatar, eased past Poland 3-1 in their last-16 fixture.
An England v France fixture would mark the first time the two sides have met at a men's World Cup since 1982, when Bryan Robson scored twice for the Three Lions in a 3-1 victory. The two sides’ most recent competitive meeting came back in Euro 2012, in a group-stage encounter which saw Samir Nasri equalise for France in a 1-1 draw after Joleon Lescott had given England the lead. They also met in the group stages at Euro 2004 when two late goals from Zinedine Zidane gave France a 2-1 win.
Whoever wins the potentially mouth-watering quarter-final tie later this month could then play Portugal or Spain in the semi-final, with other fancied teams Argentina and Brazil being on the other side of the draw with no possibility of playing England or France until the final, which is to be held on Sunday, December 14, in Lusail, with a UK kick-off time of 3pm.
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