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They had been brilliant in their previous outing against Poland, exploiting space, moving and creating. But Senegal weren’t Poland. The way the Aliou Cisse’s side harried and badgered the Colombians was a pointer to what England might do.
Everton’s Idrissa Gueye provided real snap in the centre. Like a budget N’Golo Kanté he was everywhere, sniping and breaking up play. Eric Dier and Jordan Henderson will have taken note.
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| Yerry Mina celebrates after scoring Colombia's winner on Thursday – his second from a set piece at this year's World Cup |
England now face Colombia having lost on Thursday night and finished second in their group. After this defeat, Senegal were evicted from the competition when, after finishing level on points, goal difference and goals scored with Japan, their inferior disciplinary record told. Suddenly winning the group looked a very palatable option for the English. Because frankly, facing the South Americans will not be easy.
Let’s start with the most glaringly obvious: there is no doubt which
set of fans will win the battle of noise when England meet the South
Americans.
The Samara Arena was a sea of yellow, with one little patch
of constantly dancing green. Colombians had bought up 75 per cent of the
tickets, filling the place with a Latin American rhythm and an
unceasing broiling racket, which reached a crescendo when they took the
lead late in the second half.
Mind, the Colombian hordes had
little to cheer in the first half as Senegal controlled the pace and
flow of the game. Indeed Gareth Southgate will have seen enough from the
way Senegal played against the Colombians to appreciate they are by no
means unbeatable.
They had been brilliant in their previous outing against Poland, exploiting space, moving and creating. But Senegal weren’t Poland. The way the Aliou Cisse’s side harried and badgered the Colombians was a pointer to what England might do.
Everton’s Idrissa Gueye provided real snap in the centre. Like a budget N’Golo Kanté he was everywhere, sniping and breaking up play. Eric Dier and Jordan Henderson will have taken note.
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Senegal’s
squeeze meant James Rodríguez, who had looked back to his best against
the Poles, suddenly had nowhere to turn. Juan Quintero and Radamel
Falcao were equally constrained.
There was none of the time and space to
work the ball to Juan Cuadrado as the Poles had allowed them.
It made
matters worse when, after just half an hour, Rodríguez limped off
straight down the tunnel after a flare-up of the calf problem that had
constricted his contribution during the defeat to Japan.
It was the last
thing the Colombians wanted to see. His return had really perked the
team up after their defeat to Japan.
Now he was off. And if he has not recovered in time for the Round of
16, it will offer a huge fillip to England. Because there is no doubt
who makes Colombia tick.
But there is one area England really will have to watch. Colombia are
dangerous from a corner. Here, for the second game in succession,
Yerry
Mina, the Barcelona reserve centre-back, got his head to a set piece,
sparking extraordinary celebrations in the stands. John Stones and Harry
Maguire are not the only ones who know what they are doing at corner
kicks.