We simulated England vs Senegal to get a World Cup Round of 16 score prediction

England can book its spot in the World Cup quarter-finals on Sunday with victory over Senegal, so we simulated the game to try and predict the outcome.

A ruthless attacking display in the second half saw England beat Wales 3-0 in their final game in Group B – the victory courtesy of Phil Foden’s tap-in and a Marcus Rashford brace. The result kept England top of the group, drawing against Senegal in the World Cup 2022‘s last-16.

A Sadio Mane-less Senegal won 2-1 in its final game to secure second place in Group A, with the African champions pulling their weight in a tough group. The Three Lions will be without Ben White as the defender returned to England due to personal reasons this week, though the Arsenal man hadn’t featured during his time in the England camp.

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Southgate could also have a selection headache for Sunday’s clash after the likes of Rashford, Phil Foden, and Jordan Henderson all impressed in their first starts of the tournament. So, how could England fare against Senegal on Sunday evening?

England vs Senegal score prediction

To run this simulation, we used FIFA 23 and updated the squads with the latest injuries and suspensions. We didn’t select a team to control, but let the AI take the reins instead to get a score prediction.

We speculate that England could line up in a 4-3-3 formation, with their line-up as follows: Pickford; Trippier, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Henderson, Bellingham; Rashford, Kane, Sterling.

We predict that Senegal could set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with their line-up as follows: Mendy; Sabaly, Koulibaly, Diallo, Jakobs; Ciss, Gueye; Diatta; Ndiaye, Sarr; Dia.

England were the dominant side in the opening stages, with Senegal barely getting a sniff of possession. Southgate’s midfield trio were working a treat for England as they controlled the midfield battle, and after Henderson was fouled outside the area, the Three Lions took the lead from the resulting free-kick.

A smart one-two with Harry Kane saw Henderson attempt to work the ball into the box, but the midfielder was blocked off when chasing the return pass and won a free kick in a dangerous position. With Kieran Trippier back in the side, the defender was back on set-pieces, and he floated a wonderful effort over the Senegal wall and into the top corner of the net.

England had plenty of chances to double the lead following the opener, but some sloppy finishing from Kane, Raheem Sterling and Rashford let off Senegal’s blundering defence lightly. But, just before the break, Rashford doubled the lead with a bit of luck.

Jude Bellingham smartly flicked Luke Shaw‘s cross to the feet of Rashford just outside the area, and the winger quickly shifted the ball onto his right to take shot. His effort aimed for the bottom corner deflected off the Senegal defender to send the ball back towards the centre of the goal, putting off Edouard Mendy as the ball flew under the ‘keeper.

Senegal had managed just one shot in the entire first half, but pulled a surprise goal back just after the restart when Iliman Ndiaye’s driven cross ricocheted into the net off Jordan Pickford‘s boot. The goal could’ve set up a nervy end to the game, but the Three Lions took back control instantly and made it 3-1 with 10 minutes remaining.

A long ball forward from Henderson was met by the run of Foden, and an outrageous bit of skill saw the Man City man flick the ball behind him and into the path of Bukayo Saka. The substitute controlled the ball before curling a sublime effort into the far corner, cementing England’s spot in the World Cup quarter-finals.

England vs Senegal score prediction results: England 3-1 Senegal

Here are the full-time match stats.

FIFA 23 predicts that England could ease to victory against Senegal on Sunday, despite a slight scare in the second half. The midfield three of Henderson, Declan Rice and Bellingham controlled the game, whilst Rashford capitalised on another start with another goal.

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