Our 3️⃣ points as England book last 16 spot with rousing Wales win | OneFootball

England were at their decisive best in the second half as a Marcus Rashford double and one goal from Phil Foden saw them beat Wales 3-0.

It means the Three Lions finish top of Group B whilst Wales pack their bags and say goodbye to Qatar 2022.

Safe passage

England are through to the last 16 of the World Cup.

It’s been an up and down group stage so far for Gareth Southgate’s side but after three games, the Three Lions are staying in Qatar and finish Group B top of the table with seven points.

Senegal will be their opponents on Sunday in what should be a fascinating encounter but England won’t have too much to worry about if they play like they did after the break.

A superb tactical switch from Gareth Southgate at half time saw Phil Foden and Marcus Rashford swap wings, and really opened up the game for his side.

It really was chalk and cheese from the first 45 minutes as England’s front three ran riot after the break.

Thoughts now will turn to the weekend’s clash with Aliou Cisse’s men with Southgate having a few selection headaches in attack.

Will Raheem Sterling be recalled? Can Rashford and Foden really be dropped?

It won’t be an easy decision but that’s why Southgate’s on the big bucks.

Heads held high

So long then, Cymru.

They waited 64 years to return to the World Cup but after three games, it’s over for Wales.

Disappointment at their performance in Qatar will soon fade however and the memories of just getting here will remain.

It’s not that Rob Page’s side played well for just 45 minutes in this tournament that should be the take away.

What fans in Cardiff and Carmarthen, Swansea and St Clears will think back on is the sheer fact that this nation of three million made it to the biggest sporting occasion on the planet in the first place.

No longer are rugby union stars like JPR Williams, Alun Wyn Jones and Phil Bennett the idols of the country’s youth.

Now it’s Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and Brennan Johnson who occupy the minds of children up and down Wales.

That’s the legacy this side leaves.

It was clearly a tournament too far for a lot of these players but with the World Cup expanding to 48 teams as of 2026, we’re certainly that Cymru won’t have to wait another 64 years to return.

You’re the one

There has been plenty of Southgate-bashing from the press over recent days.

England’s dire 0-0 draw with USA last Friday was one of the worst games of this tournament so far and almost the complete antithesis of what this young side had produced in the first game with Iran.

That vast contrast – from potent, vibrant attack to complete dirge – was at the heart of the frustrations around Southgate and his management style.

‘We know you can play well, so why can’t you do it every time?’

Similar grievances were apparent here in the first half as England struggled to get past a dogged Wales defence.

But a simple switch of wingers and some smart substitutions completely opened up this match and saw England win with ease.

It means that Southgate has now won more tournament matches as England manager than any other in the nation’s history, including Sir Alf Ramsey.

It’s a statistic that speaks for itself and should give fans a little bit of perspective going into Sunday’s Senegal clash.