Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw are starting for England in their Round of 16 clash with Senegal at the Al Bayt Stadium, which kicks off at 7pm UK time.
Maguire and Shaw have both been ever-present for Gareth Southgate’s side and the pair have been pivotal to an England defence that have kept two clean sheets in this World Cup so far.
If England are to go through, then a lot of what they do will depend on Maguire and Shaw because they have proven to be reliable assets when defending and attacking for the Three Lions.
Both United defenders have a good understanding of each other’s game after playing regularly on the same side before Maguire’s switch to the right-hand side of the defence became permanent under Erik ten Hag this season after Ralf Rangnick had experimented with it in the 1-1 draw against Leicester back in April.
However, there is no place in the starting XI for Marcus Rashford, who drops to the substitute bench and is replaced by Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka.
Despite not starting, the United number 10 should not be too disheartened because he will most likely come on in the second half and with England likely to dominate the ball, using Rashford’s pace and movements in the second half against tiring defenders could be a useful plan.
With plenty at stake for both teams tonight, England know that if they were to beat the African Cup of Nation champions, Senegal, then a place in the quarter final awaits against Raphael Varane’s France, who defeated Poland 3-1 earlier today.
