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Greg Evans
Nov 29, 2022
England fans celebrate teams third goal against Wales
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England have eased to qualification for the last 16 of the World Cup by beating Wales 3-0 in a confident win in their final group stage game in Qatar.
Two goals from Manchester United's Marcus Rashford and another from Phil Foden saw Gareth Southgate's side overcome a dull first half and blowed away Wales in the second half. The Three Lions will now face Senegal in the last 16 on Sunday.
Following criticism of his stoic tactics against the United States, Southgate has made four changes to his starting XI with Kieran Trippier, Mason Mount, Raheem Sterling and Bukayo Saka all making way for Kyle Walker, Jordan Henderson, Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden respectively.
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Wales will rue their missed chances in the tournament having failed to beat the USA and Iran in their first two games but will be proud to have returned to the World Cup after 64 years.
Here's how fans reacted to the result staring with Southgate explaining why there is such a close rivalry between the two teams.
\u201cGareth Southgate was asked to describe why England v Wales is a local rivalry\u2026\ud83d\ude33\u201d— Dom Smith (@Dom Smith) 1669668710
After 15 minutes it wasn't the most thrilling affair to say the least but it was better than the USA game.
\u201cPedestrian game, England taking initiative but not a lot of creativity so far. Always seems to be the same in tournaments, even with recent successes. The lack of a 10 in central attacking areas to asses, spot and execute a killer pass.\n\n#FIFAWorldCup\u201d— Stan Collymore (@Stan Collymore) 1669749568
\u201cThis is, by an absolute mile, the best atmosphere of the World Cup so far. (even with still quite a few empty seats). Proper noise. #USAvIRN\u201d— Adam Crafton (@Adam Crafton) 1669749428
Kyle Walker at least turned up to do a Triple H impression.
\u201cKyle Walker \ud83e\udd1d Triple H\u201d— COPA90 (@COPA90) 1669749927
An appearance from Wales and Liverpool legend, Ian Rush caused a minor stir.
\u201cIan Rush is giving White Walker\u201d— Ben Machell (@Ben Machell) 1669750006
\u201cIAN RUSH IS IN THE HOUSE FOR ENGLAND v. WALES!\u201d— stateofsport21 // raz (she/her) (@stateofsport21 // raz (she/her)) 1669749989
A Harry Maguire shot went out for a throw-in after briefly thinking he was Messi.
\u201cHarry Maguire watched Ronaldinho comps before the game\n#ENG #wal\u201d— Joel Beya (@Joel Beya) 1669750345
\u201cHarry Maguire slaloms into the box and then hits a shot that shanks off his boot and goes for a throw in. It rather sums up the opening half hour of this match.\u201d— Sean Ingle (@Sean Ingle) 1669750340
\u201cwhy is no one gambling on that maguire cross\u201d— Jacob Steinberg (@Jacob Steinberg) 1669750309
\u201cMaguire trying the John O\u2019Shea Special.\u201d— Dan (@Dan) 1669750472
Half time arrived with very little to talk about.
\u201cEngland have killed goals\u201d— Barney Ronay (@Barney Ronay) 1669750561
\u201cCommentators have been more encouraged by England\u2019s performance than I have. Pretty uninspiring on the whole, and yet again so few chances created for the man leading the line.\u201d— Stefan Pape (@Stefan Pape) 1669751542
Bizarrely there was a half-time show by Chesney 'The One and Only' Hawkes.
\u201cChesney Hawkes half time show???\u201d— Carl Anka (@Carl Anka) 1669751470
\u201cChesney Hawkes is playing The One and Only at half-time in England v Wales.\u201d— Miguel Delaney (@Miguel Delaney) 1669751836
\u201c"World Cup half-time show with Chesney Hawkes".\n\n#WALENG #Qatar2022\u201d— Brian Stokes (@Brian Stokes) 1669751520
Shortly after the restart Marcus Rashford scored a sublime free kick.
\u201cPride of Manchester!\n\n@MarcusRashford \ud83d\udc4f\ud83c\udffb\ud83d\udc4f\ud83c\udffb\ud83d\udc4f\ud83c\udffb\u201d— Andy Burnham (@Andy Burnham) 1669752646
\u201cCrying at Rashford scoring that free kick though Omg \ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude2d he deserves the world\u201d— megan townsend (@megan townsend) 1669752767
And then Foden bagged another...
\u201cGOAL: Foden\nASSIST: The Clamour\u201d— Adam Hurrey (@Adam Hurrey) 1669752695
\u201cPhil Foden makes it 2. What a rush! England \ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc65\udb40\udc6e\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc7f schooling Wales \ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc77\udb40\udc6c\udb40\udc73\udb40\udc7f.\u201d— Adewale Adetona (@Adewale Adetona) 1669752852
\u201cRashford and Foden both scoring for England\u201d— Jai McIntosh (@Jai McIntosh) 1669752847
Rashford scored a third and it was a landmark as it was England's third at the World Cup and people couldn't be happier for him.
\u201cThere are few greater sights in football than seeing Marcus Rashford happy\u201d— Ian Ford (@Ian Ford) 1669753771
\u201cMARVELLOUS. MARCUS. RASHFORD.\n\nTHE BEST #ENG STRIKER.\u201d— Muhammad Butt (@Muhammad Butt) 1669752684
\u201cI love that man\u201d— Nooruddean (@Nooruddean) 1669754128
\u201cMarcus Rashford now has as many World Cup goals as Johan Cruyff\u201d— Duncan Alexander (@Duncan Alexander) 1669753831
\u201cRashford's switch from left wing to right wing has been very successful...\nThe same can't be said for twitter under Elon Musk.\u201d— Ben Crellin (@Ben Crellin) 1669754144
Unlucky Wales, you did your country proud. At least there was something that both teams could enjoy.
\u201cEngland and Wales fans boo as Gianni Infantino appears on the big screen.\n\nWe love to see it. \ud83e\udd0c\u201d— Alfie | HITC Sevens (@Alfie | HITC Sevens) 1669754667
And commiserations to Michael Sheen whose inspiring speeches couldn't raise his team.
\u201cMichael Sheen right now:\u201d— Aidan James (@Aidan James) 1669754400
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