Motivated Senegal ready for a scrap in a battle of the lions
SENEGAL have thrown down the gauntlet to England – challenging them to a duel to reach the World Cup quarter-final.
The West African country stand between England and a spot in the last eight and have told Gareth Southgate’s men to prepare for an in-your-face scrap on Sunday.
Emotions were running high within Aliou Cisse’s squad after they secured their passage through to the last 16 by beating Ecuador 2-1 on Tuesday.
Skipper Kalidou Koulibaly said: “Senegal are better when they have their backs against the wall. We see real men and against Ecuador we saw real lions on the pitch. They wanted to hurt us but we are used to that.We play inAfrica.We are the African champions and we are used to duels.
“We knew we were going to respond on the pitch – and we did.”
Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye said that to have not reached the knockout stage – this is only the second time the country has gone beyond the group stage – would have been a waste of years of hard work.
The Lions of Teranga sense they are men on a mission and England will have to thwart their date with destiny if the Three Lions are to progress. Gueye, below, said: “We’re really happy getting through because of all the effort we’ve made through the years.We know we have the players for it. Against Ecuador, it was like an AFCON game – a real battle.
“We had to deliver, and we did.We made an effort to qualify in the play-off game against Egypt.
“It would have been wasted had we not reached the last 16.We did it for the Senegalese people, for us and we hope to continue in the last 16.”
There is plenty of Premier League and Championship experience within Cisse’s squad with Chelsea duo Edouard Mendy and Koulibaly at the back, Gueye anchoring the midfield and Sheffield United’s Iliman Ndiaye and Watford’s Ismaila Sarr up front. Sarr, in particular, ran Ecuador ragged and is growing into the tournament.
Gueye added: “Ismaila can be the X factor, the kind of player who takes people on and makes the difference.
“He is playing really well. If he plays at that level, he can become even better, he just has to work hard and keep going, believing in himself.”