England side to face Senegal 'leaked' as Gareth Southgate makes big call

Gareth Southgate is set to make some huge calls for England's last 16 World Cup game vs Senegal, with Phil Foden expected to keep his place in a 'leaked' line up.

The England boss came in for some very harsh criticism in the wake of his side's 0-0 draw vs USA, in their second group game of the tournament.

Southgate's side eventually finished the stage with the best record of any side, and only one of five teams to avoid defeat across all the groups.

That came after he made changes to the game against Wales and started both Phil Foden and Marcus Rashford, with the pair both scoring in the 3-0 win.

Rashford scored a brace in the game, including the opener from a brilliant free kick, which was made even better by Peter Drury's commentary.

However, it was Foden who fans had been calling to be played, after he failed to even make it on as a substitute in the draw with the USMNT.

And, according to reports, the Manchester City forward is set to keep his place for Sunday's knockout match against African champions Senegal.

The Express claim that Foden will get the nod in the team but Rashford will still miss out, despite three goals so far in the tournament, with Bukayo Saka expected to come back in.

Predicted line up: Jordan Pickford; Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, John Stones, Kyle Walker; Jordan Henderson, Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice; Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka; Harry Kane.

Southgate will reportedly drop Rashford for the last 16 game. Image: Alamy

The manager's other two changes for the final game of the group saw Jordan Henderson and Kyle Walker come into the team, in place of Mason Mount and Kieran Trippier.

Southgate is also thought to be sticking with those two players for the game vs Senegal, proving he's not looking beyond the tricky tie.

Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker was accused of doing that when he claimed that the Euro 2020 runners up should drop Walker for Sunday's game.

The 1986 World Cup golden boot winner claimed that Walker is the only one of England's right backs who can cope with France's Kylian Mbappe.

Should England and France win their last 16 ties then they will face each other in the quarter finals, something Lineker was called 'disrespectful' for, for assuming would happen.

The 62-year-old defended himself by saying that Trippier and Trent Alexander-Arnold were still brilliant right back, so their quality would not lessen England vs Senegal, but Walker was the one quick enough to deal with Mbappe.

Walker has come up against Mbappe for club and country before. Image: Alamy

The Manchester City full back missed England's first two group games, as he was still coming back from a pre tournament injury.

Not playing him vs Senegal might have also been part of his recovery but it seems that the former Tottenham Hotspur star is now fit enough to play back-to-back games.

Should England progress then it is possible that the manager would return to a back three anyway, meaning that Walker wouldn't even play as a right back against France, or Poland, but as a right centre back.