Emma Sanders
BBC Sport in Qatar

England v France. It's the World Cup quarter-final everyone is talking about. Yet, there are significant hurdles to overcome first.

Both sides may face lower-ranked opposition in their last-16 ties on Sunday but this is a World Cup that has thrown up shock result after shock result. France must first overcome Poland, while England face African champions Senegal.

They may sit 13 places lower than England in the Fifa world rankings, but Senegal have a squad packed full of talent, even without injured superstar Sadio Mane.

"We know we will be favourites in terms of rankings but Senegal will be a very dangerous side," said England manager Gareth Southgate.

"We know many of their players who play in the Premier League and throughout Europe."

Read the full story here

Image source, Getty Images

There was some breaking news from the Senegal camp yesterday.

Head coach Aliou Cisse could miss their match with England due to illness.

The former Birmingham and Portsmouth defender led Senegal to their maiden Africa Cup of Nations title earlier this year before guiding them out of the group stage of a World Cup for the first time since 2002.

The 46 year-old was missing from his media duties on Saturday, the day before the fixture against England in Al Khor, having also been unable to take training on Friday.

"He has been sick for a couple of days now," said assistant coach Regis Bogaert, who replaced Cisse at the press conference.

"He let us take charge of training yesterday, obviously with his instructions to the players.

"Hopefully tomorrow he will be able to come and be on the bench with the players but we are sure at 10pm he will be there with the team.

"I can confirm he is sick and has a bit of a temperature, that is why we have to be careful with his situation."

Image source, Getty Images

When England meet Senegal in the last 16 of the World Cup in Qatar on Sunday there will be no shortage of Premier League stars lining up for both nations.

Aliou Cisse's side reached the knockout stage for only the second time in their history - and the first since 2002 - by beating Ecuador 2-1 in their final Group A match on Tuesday.

But how well do you know the Lions of Teranga - past and present?

We're giving you three minutes to name Senegal's top 20 all-time Premier League appearance makers.

Click here and good luck!

*The player pictured above with the footy over his face is an easy one*

The press in Senegal are cautiously optimistic about the team's chances against England tonight, drawing on memories of the 2002 World Cup run, which saw them reach the quarter-finals under the captainship of Aliou Cisse, who now coaches the national team.

Le Soleil, external newspaper says: "Senegal has a date with history," adding: "The 'Lions' who aspire to write their own history will have to step on the 'Three Lions' to pursue their dream."

Le Quotidien , externalwrites: "What if we rewrote history?" and concludes the story with "The Three Lions have been warned."

Image source, Getty Images

Harry Kane is all smiles in those training photos.

The England captain won the golden boot at the 2018 World Cup, and although he is yet to score in Qatar - despite England's tournament-high nine group-stage goals - he has contributed three assists.

The Tottenham striker had an injury scare earlier in the tournament after sustaining a knock against Iran but says he is now focused on hitting his peak.

"First and foremost my foot feels fine, no problem at all. It has been getting getter and better day by day," Kane confirmed on Saturday.

"Form-wise I feel like I have been playing well. Goals are what I'm going to be judged on most, but I'm a calm individual and I always try to focus on doing my best for the team.

"I will continue to do that. If the goals come, great, it will give us a better chance of winning. It will be a tough game, but tomorrow hopefully I can get off the mark.

"I feel really good, I feel fit and sharp. I feel as match fit as I'm ever going to feel. Only time will tell. I can try and come into the best form with these knockout games."

Here are some pictures from England training yesterday.

Spirits certainly seem high.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Will we all still be sitting here come Sunday, 18 December, supporting England in a World Cup final?

While Senegal have reached the knockout stage of a World Cup for just the second time, England are bidding to make the last eight in consecutive tournaments for the first time since 2006, following their run to the semi-finals four years ago.

Southgate's side were eliminated by an extra-time Croatia winner in Russia, before then losing out to Italy on penalties in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley last summer.

"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," Southgate told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"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."

Image source, Getty Images

Gareth Southgate says England's tag as "favourites" means nothing as they prepare for their World Cup last-16 meeting with Senegal.

The Three Lions meet African champions Senegal in their first knockout stage match in Qatar this evening at 19:00 GMT.

England qualified as Group B winners with a 3-0 win over Wales on Tuesday, while Senegal were runners-up behind the Netherlands in Group A.

"We will be considered favourites," Southgate said. "But that doesn't really mean anything in a one-off game."

Read more here.

Don't worry if you're out and about today.

BBC Radio 5 Live has you covered for France v Poland and England v Senegal.

Listen on your DAB radio or via the BBC Sounds app.

That's reaction of last night's matches neatly tucked away.

Time to build-up to today's action.

England, Senegal, France and Poland. Come on down...

While Argentina celebrated beating Australia at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Lionel Messi added that it was far from an easy task beating the Socceroos.

"I'm very happy for taking another step forward, achieving another objective. It was a very difficult match, we knew it was going to be this way," said the 35-year-old.

"We knew it was going to be a very physical match and they were very strong. We had a setback with their goal, but that's the World Cup for you.

"Matches are always difficult and what's important is that you win."

Image source, Getty Images

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni will be coming up against Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal when the two sides meet in the quarter-finals on next Friday.

For Scaloni, the chance to test his managerial skills against the experienced Van Gaal is one he is relishing.

"I was at Deportivo La Coruna when he was Barcelona coach and he was already an leading figure," said Scaloni. " I'm proud to take him on, everyone knows what he's done for football."

Scaloni was actually part of the Deportivo side that pipped Van Gaal's Barcelona to the La Liga title in 2000.

On the test the Netherlands will provide to his Argentina side, Scaloni added: "It's not as brilliant as previous Dutch teams, but they are very clear on what they do. It will be a great match between two historic teams. One will be knocked out, we hope we go through."

While we're praising a player from one side of Manchester, it is only fair we do the same for the other side.

This block from second-half sub and Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez was absolutely pivotal for Argentina.

It was superb.

The one thing Australia coach Graham Arnold wants to see come out of the Socceroos' World Cup journey is more investment in the game back home.

"There's an expectation that it should just happen every time," said Graham. "We've got to look at Australian football."

"We need to spend money and get help from the government to put money into the game and help develop kids."

Arnold also wants somewhere that can be a centre for Australian football.

"The government need to build us a house," he said. "We need a home, something that the government can help fund for the development of the national team and the good of Australian football."

Image source, Getty Images

Australia head coach Graham Arnold spoke of his pride in his players' achievements but could not hide his disappointment at the Socceroos' exit.

"I've just said to the boys I couldn't be more proud of them for their effort, everything they gave for me and the nation," Arnold said.

"I really hope that Australia is very proud of these players. They did a fantastic job. I just thank them for all the effort they put in during the whole campaign, and my staff.

"It's probably me, the way I am. Even though we've been successful, I feel like we've failed because I wanted to win so badly for the nation and the game in Australia.

"Making the last 16 wasn't enough, I wanted more. But that's just me. A lot of other people may be happy with it, but that's just the way I am."

Talk has been dominated by Lionel Messi since the game last night, and understandably so.

But, a mention for Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez too.

The 22-year-old has now scored in successive games and looked a livewire throughout the game.

At just £14m the Blues may have got themselves a bargain.

Image source, Getty Images

Lionel Messi was full of praise for the "passion" and "energy" of the Argentina fans after they beat Australia to reach the World Cup quarter-finals.

"These are amazing feelings. I'm really happy to share this beautiful moment, these happy moments with them all," said Messi.

"The effort they are making to be here with us in every single match. I know how much they enjoy it back in Argentina. The whole of Argentina would like to be here, but it's not possible. I think there's this bond that we have, this union, which is something beautiful.

"It's unbelievable what they transmit, the passion, their energy, their joy and we're very thankful. It's unbelievable."

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer in Doha

Argentina and Lionel Messi are the team that has captured the imagination of the locals more than any other here in Qatar.

A family of six were following the last 16 game with Australia on a small phone propped up on their table in a cafe last night and when Messi opened the scoring they were joined by other celebrating customers - and staff - to watch the replay.

Argentina's colours have been the most visible since before this World Cup started and excitement is mounting about their chances.