Mayeni Jones
Reporting from Dakar

Image source, BBC/Kyla Herrmannsen

Seynabou Ba, a Senegalese superfan who travelled with her nephew to Doha to watch two Senegal games – facing Ecuador and Qatar - says the game against the South American side made the squad "realise that they are a team".

"Of course we know we’d be even more confident if Sadio [Mane] was there, but I think the team gained confidence that they can finally do it. So with England, there is no reason at all why we can’t do it. So I’m going in very confident."

Image source, BBC/Kyla Herrmannsen

Khadija, whose husband Alexis is French but will sensibly supporting Senegal tonight, predicts the reigning African champions will beat England by two goals to nil.

"And we’ll bring back the cup, the World Cup," she confidently adds, laughing slightly.

Image source, BBC/Kyla Herrmannsen

Moukhtar Lo, a very keen fan who we met playing football on the beach in Dakar with friends, also reckons Senegal have the upper edge in tonight’s game.

He tells me: "You know that most of our players are playing in the Premier League – we have almost six players.

"We know how English players will play tonight so it will be not difficult for us to beat them, I think."

Celestine Karoney
BBC Sport Africa journalist on BBC Radio 5 Live

The Senegalese fans are absolutely amazing. For most of these guys in that singing group, these are people who have travelled with the team, some of them even for decades. Everywhere the team goes, they go too.

Something very interesting about them is that they do rehearsals. What you see in the stadium is rehearsed 0 they don't just come and beat drums, no no no. Every morning at 9am, you will find them doing rehearsals.

Anon: As a Blade, I hope its 4-3 to England with an Iliman Ndiaye hat trick

Image source, Getty Images

A bit awkward this - Marcus Rashford is missing from the England squad in the official World Cup sticker album.

I am sure, though, he will be more frustrated about missing out on selection for tonight's starting line-up.

England

England defender John Stones speaking to ITV1: "We've seen how important everyone has been coming off the bench or starting. We've got great attackers so whoever starts, hopefully they can bring that to the game.

The counter attack is a challenge from Senegal. They are a very organised and athletic team, from what we have seen. We've got to be disciplined for the 90 or 120 minutes, whatever it may be and keep the ball high up the pitch."

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Al Bayt Stadium

Senegal's supporters have been one of the highlights of this World Cup with with their passion, colour and the incessant rhythm of their bands providing a wonderful backdrop.

They have real belief in this team, even without their great talisman Sadio Mane, and they are providing their usual support already in Al Bayt Stadium.

Senegal are African champions, full of talent, and ready to take on the challenge of reaching the World Cup quarter-final. Under-estimate this team at your peril.

One thing you can be sure of in the Al Bayt Stadium tonight: there will be colourful scenes in the stands...

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport at Al Bayt Stadium

Image source, BBC Sport

A father with his two daughters were dressed up head to toe in England gear outside Al Bayt.

The sign was folded up so I went over and asked what was written on it.

"Jack Grealish, can I have your shirt?" They need him to come on!

Martin Keown
Former England defender

Gareth Southgate has got a great spirit in the England camp. It is like a family abroad at the moment. There is a lot of care for the people who haven't played and consideration. Conor Coady, for example, hasn't featured but he is doing a lot of work behind the scenes and they deserve a mention as well because they are doing a lot to support the group.

Gareth knows that and he brings that together. He has been a player and that helps him in this situation.

Tonight is about winning. The next opponent, whoever it might be, doesn't matter.

England boss Gareth Southgate, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "We are two tournaments on from when we played Colombia at this stage in Moscow. I think our level of experience is better, our level of ambition is different.

"When we qualified from our group stage in Russia, we were probably celebrating quite a bit. This time was a great evening for our fans and we enjoyed the win, but we were already thinking of the next game.

"We know the focus has to be on this one game, nothing else."

Asked about the prospect of penalties, Southgate added: "We are aiming to win the game and avoid extra time and penalties, but if we need to go 120 minutes or beyond that we have to be ready for that mentally and physically and I believe we are."

Neil: Don't underestimate Senegal, I lived there for many years and football is like a religion. It's coming home... to Senegal

Martin Keown
Former England defender

Senegal are used to winning. They are coming with no Sadio Mane, which is a big blow, but they've managed that well.

Kalidou Koulibaly played really well in their last game, but he has got weaknesses as well. We shouldn't be lumping balls into the box, we should exploit the space around him.

I am confident that England have the tools to beat Senegal. We just need to prove it on the pitch now. We need to be confident but not arrogant. There is a balance because any opponent you have to respect but you have to, deep down, feel you can beat.

Celestine Karoney
BBC Sport Africa journalist on BBC Radio 5 Live

Senegal will be underdogs, despite being African champions. You look at the quality that England are bringing into this game and everybody you speak to in the Senegalese camp tells you that they are going in as underdogs.

There is a greater belief this time around because there is a sense that the mentality is shifting when you think about African teams and even when you think about this team. They have been together for almost a decade so that sense of cohesion and unity is something they are going to be relying on.

They feel that they have what it takes because they too have players who play in the same leagues as these English players, so that is going to be a big advantage they feel they carry.

Captain [Kalidou] Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy at the back are going to know how these English players think. So they can get in there and be competitive.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport at Al Bayt Stadium

Image source, BBC Sport

I met a father, brother and son earlier all from Solihull. They were fairly confident of a win tonight.

The father went big straight away. "3-0, to England. We should win."

His son James, wearing an old Gerrard number 4 shirt, was a bit more cautious. "2-1 I think."

I asked if they had watched Kylian Mbappe's performance on their way in.

"Oh, no? If we get through that's going to be fun..."

Jude: I know Senegal have Premier league players. Would any of them get in an England squad? Plus their strike force is two Championship players. Endless energy and team work is their prime quality.

Matt Upson
Former England defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

You can tell a lot from a player, when he comes on the pitch and they start giving orders about what players have to do. That's exactly what Jordan Henderson does when he comes on. He is a voice of organisation and you can just see him organising. That is a huge role, it cannot be undervalued.

Image source, BBC Sport

Please, don't let this go to a penalty shootout.

England have had their fair share of shootout heartache in major tournaments, most recently in the final of Euro 2020.

However, the boffins at BBC Sport and Opta have been crunching the numbers to see if all those penalties taken in the past can help inform the present.

Read the findings here.

Andy Cryer
BBC Sport in Qatar

The atmosphere is building around Al Bayt Stadium.

Around half an hour ago there was hardly anyone around, now the hustle and bustle is growing - and the Senegal fans are making themselves heard.