England vs. Senegal prediction, odds, betting tips and best bets for World Cup 2022 knockout clash

After making the semifinals at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the final of the 2020 European Championships, English fans will be hoping that their side can go one better this time around in Qatar.

That journey truly starts here at the Round of 16 stage against Group A runners up Senegal who got the better of Ecuador in their final group stage match to qualify.

Having never previously lost across 20 international matches to African opposition, England will be confident of extending that run here but Senegal will make for tough opposition.

With a number of players in their squad playing for English clubs, they'll be keen to prove a point in causing an upset and will feel under far less pressure than their opposition here given that this is only their second-ever knockout appearance at the World Cup.

MORE: When is England vs. Senegal at World Cup? Date, time, early odds and history for Round of 16 match

Unsurprisingly, the bookmakers have Group B winners England as the heavy favourites to win this match up against Group A runners up Senegal.

Scoring nine times across their three group outings, many will be expecting Gareth Southgate's side to win quite handedly in this Round of 16 clash but Senegal shouldn't be underestimated.

The African side showed their pedigree with a solid 2-1 victory against Ecuador in their third group stage match to qualify for this match up with England, and they have plenty of quality across their squad.

That said, England have already dismantled both Iran and Wales at this tournament, two teams who are ranked at a very similar level to Senegal by FIFA at present.

As a result at -190, an outright victory for the Three Lions wouldn't exactly return a huge amount but it's difficult to not see that result come to fruition here, especially as they've remarkably never lost to an African nation across 20 prior such internationals.

A reminder: All moneyline bets in soccer are for regulation only, regardless of competition. If the match requires a winner and goes to extra-time or penalties, a moneyline bet of a regulation draw is successful and the rest of play does not factor in.

England vs. Senegal: 3 things to know

Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips made his long-awaited return from a shoulder injury as a second-half substitute for England against Wales, though Leicester City playmaker James Maddison remained on the bench as he continues his comeback from a knee injury that meant he only trained with the squad for the first time before their final group game. Defender Ben White has left the squad for personal reasons, and head coach Gareth Southgate has tricky selection decisions to make after Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden - who both scored - impressed in a starting side shaken up following a 0-0 draw against the USA that received some criticism.

Idrissa Gueye is not happy about being suspended for Senegal after collecting a booking in the 2-1 victory over Ecuador. "I was disgusted at the time," the Everton player reportedly said. "I kept telling the referee that, through his fault, I was going to miss the Round of 16 match." Leicester's Nampalys Mendy is expected to replace Gueye, while one of their fellow Premier League midfielders, Nottingham Forest's Cheikhou Kouyate, is yet to return to training after landing awkwardly during Senegal's opening match against the Netherlands and being taken off on a stretcher.

MORE: Full injury tracker for all 32 teams at the 2022 FIFA World Cup
• England have never faced Senegal before. Only once have they met an African side in the World Cup knockout rounds, defeating Cameroon 3-2 after extra time in the quarterfinals at the 1990 tournament.
• England have previously played African nations seven times at the World Cup and remain unbeaten (W4, D3). In fact overall across 20 international matches, England have never lost to an African side.
• African sides have lost eight of their nine World Cup knockout matches vs. European nations though Senegal were the exception in 2022 when they defeated Sweden 2-1 in the Round of 16.
• Across their World Cup history, England have won five of their seven Round of 16 ties.

After netting nine goals across their three group stage matches, we're expecting England to beat Senegal here in their Round of 16 clash.

The Three Lions have demonstrated plenty of ability in performing well through knockout matches in recent times and under Gareth Southgate's tactical awareness, have proved extremely difficult to beat in such scenarios.

Blessed with plenty of depth off the bench and given that Senegal are missing Sadio Mane and the influential Idrissa Gueye in midfield through suspension, England should get this match seen off in normal time.

Our 3-1 prediction reflects on the fact that the English attack has netted three or more times in three of their past five major tournament outings, though they did come into this World Cup in torrid form hence we think a clean sheet might be difficult to obtain here.

All things considered, this both teams to score bet has a nice bit of value to it at +130.

As mentioned before, England should have no trouble in finding the back of the net in this clash given that they've already put six past Iran and three past Wales in this tournament. That said, the Three Lions have performed well defensively in major tournaments of late, conceding just four times across their past ten such outings.

Senegal have however, shown their danger in front of goal themselves in this tournament and we fancy them to cause a real problem for England from set pieces. That was evidenced best when Kalidou Koulibaly struck the winner for the African nation last time out vs. Ecuador during a corner pattern of play.
• Pick: Harry Kane to score and assist in the match

At +1100, we feel that there's real value in this flier bet for Harry Kane to both score and assist against Senegal.

So far at the 2022 World Cup, Kane has registered three assists across three outings - the most of any player at the tournament - and given the strength of England's forward line, that streak shouldn't dry up here.

Maybe that won't be the problem however as the Tottenham star hasn't actually found the net himself so far at this tournament but there's plenty of data to suggest his breakthrough should come soon.

Before this competition, Kane had netted ten goals in 17 major tournament appearances, giving him an average of a goal per 153 minutes of action.

That included a run of six goals in six games at the 2018 World Cup - where he won the Golden Boot - with one of those coming in the Round of 16 clash vs. Colombia which could prove a good omen here.

To add to that, Kane has also netted 12 goals in 15 Premier League outings for Spurs this campaign and if he finally gets a golden chance in this clash, he should find the back of the net.

Additionally, as England's main penalty taker, that also could help if they're awarded a spot-kick in regular time.

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