England are set to take on Wales in what will be their final group game of the World Cup in Qatar this year.
The Three Lions, led by coach Gareth Southgate, are looking to top Pool B after recording a win against Iran and a draw against the United States.
Wales, on the other hand, need a footballing miracle if they are to reach the knockout stage of the prestigious tournament.
Needing to not only win by four goals, Wales must also have everything crossed for Iran’s match against the USA to end in a draw.
MORE: Wales vs England lineups confirmed: Phil Foden starts in place of Mason Mount
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However, with Wales all but out, much of the focus will be on whether or not Southgate’s Three Lions can move into top place in Group B, which would set up a knockout tie against Senegal, who finished as Group A runners-up just behind the Netherlands.
3 – #Senegal ?? are they only the third African team to reach the knockout stage of the World Cup in at least two different editions, after Nigeria? (1994, 1998 and 2014) and Ghana ?? (2006 and 2010). Lions.#FIFAWorldCup #ECUSEN #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/1HkwF0bEeW
— OptaPaolo? (@OptaPaolo) November 29, 2022
In light of England’s confirmed starting line-up, which will see a handful of changes, including Jordan Henderson and Kyle Walker in place of Bukayo Saka and Kieran Trippier respectively, former Liverpool star Stan Collymore believes the Southgate team selection suggests that he already has an eye on the later stages of the competition.
“I think Gareth Southgate really wanted to give Kyle Walker minutes tonight because I think if we go deeper into the tournament, he might as well go three back and put Walker alongside Maguire and Stones and then have Shaw and Trippier as wings. -backs,” Collymore said in an exclusive interview.
Interestingly, regarding Henderson’s surprise inclusion, Collymore believes the Liverpool captain has the potential to wrest a starting job away from Rice or Bellingham.
“As for Jordan Henderson,” Collymore added.
“I wonder if he has gotten into his manager’s plans. Obviously Rice and Bellingham are the future, but Southgate is a pragmatist, so as long as Henderson can put in the mileage, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him play a more prominent role as the tournament progresses.”
