Despite being scheduled to play a World Cup round of 16 tie against Senegal on Sunday, Gareth Southgate’s mind is already focused on beating France later in the tournament.
That’s according to British agent Haydn Dodge, who believes the Three Lions boss hopes to face Didier Deschamps’ Les Bleus in the World Cup quarter-finals in just over a week.
After topping Group B, England will now face Senegal, who finished runners-up in Group A. The knockout clash will take place at the Al Bayt Stadium on December 4 and will kick off at 7pm UK time. ).
Should England beat their next African opponents and France get the best of Poland earlier in the day, then the two European heavyweights will meet in the next round on December 10, and Dodge believes it is which is why full-back Kyle Walker has finally made his way into First Team Action.
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Making his first start in the competition against Wales on Tuesday, Manchester City’s Walker replaced Kieran Trippier at right-back and helped form part of a traditional defense alongside John Stones, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw.
However, although Trippier was left out of the Wales game, Dodge is hoping both full-backs will show up later in the tournament, with Walker likely to be instructed to deal with France’s star child Kylian Mbappe.
“I think Kyle Walker was used against Wales as a way of giving him a few minutes to set him up, not just for Senegal, but also for France and Kylian Mbappe in particular,” Dodge said in an exclusive interview.
“I definitely think Southgate’s mind is already on France in the quarter-finals.
“In the time of two games (fingers crossed we get there), I bet he’ll go to a defense of five and direct Walker to play on the right side of three center backs and cover Kieran Trippier.”
If England and France meet in the World Cup quarter-final, how do you think Southgate should line up their defence? – Let us know in the comments.
