England
BAN vs ENG ODI Series 2023: Top Players to Watch
The England national team arrived in Bangladesh to play three ODI and three T20 matches starting from March 1. This marks England's return to Bangladesh for the first time since 2016, with this being their fourth bilateral series tour in the country. Let’s see some of the key players from Bangladesh and England squads can shine in the BAN vs ENG ODI Series 2023.
6 Key Players from Bangladesh ODI Squad
BCB already announced a 14 member squad for the ODI series. While there are regular faces, new players are also included in the team. Now, it is time to see how many of them impact the Bangladesh team. The following are the key players for the Bangladesh team.
Tamim Iqbal
Tamim Iqbal, the left-handed opener of the Bangladesh senior cricket team, is one of the most successful batsmen against England. Having played 14 matches and scored 488 runs, including two centuries with a top score of 128 against England, Tamim is expected to give his best in this series. However, Tamim was forced to be absent from the team due to an injury.
Read More: England Look to Bangladesh ODI Series with One Eye to World Cup
Now that he is returning, fans are eager to witness his best performance. Due to a groin injury, Tamim was unable to participate in the ODI series against India in December, yet Litton Das led the team to a victorious 2-1 outcome.
Litton Das
Recently, Litton Das has been in outstanding form, and with his upcoming ODI against England, we are excited to see his incredible batting ability against an opponent he never faced before. Last December, he captained Bangladesh against India, but sadly his performance was not up to the mark, as he scored only 77 runs in three ODIs.
Despite this, he earned praise for his captaincy skills, as Bangladesh was triumphant against India, winning the series with one match left in hand. Therefore, since Litton Das will be free of extra pressure in this tournament, we expect that he will be able to provide his regular performance.
Read More: 'When Shakib and I step onto the field, nothing else holds importance for us': Tamim
Towhid Hridoy
Towhid is a new name in Bangladesh T20, but he got a call for the ODI team. Bangladeshi cricket fans eagerly await Hridoy's first appearance in this one-day series, as he was given the opportunity to join the national team due to his impressive performances in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
This year, he scored 403 runs with the bat in the BPL season, boasting a strike rate of 140 and five fifties. In the past, he has made 49 ODI appearances for the Bangladesh Under-19s, racking up 1624 runs with five centuries and ten half-centuries. Now, it's time to see if this experience has come to any help in the success of Bangladesh against England.
Shakib Al Hasan
Shakib Al Hasan is widely regarded as the greatest cricketer in Bangladesh's history, and his ability to turn a match around at any time has been well known. His incredible performance against England, which saw him notch up 399 runs and take 14 wickets in 14 appearances, has left fans eagerly anticipating his performance.
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Furthermore, the current number one in both ICC ODI and T20I rankings has the chance to reach two major milestones in the England series. If Shakib can manage to score an additional 165 runs with the bat, he will become the second Bangladeshi, after Tamim Iqbal, to collect 7000 ODI runs; 43 players have achieved this feat so far.
His current tally stands at 6835. Additionally, if he takes 6 more wickets with the ball, he will be the first Bangladeshi to reach 300 ODI wickets; only 13 bowlers have accomplished this, and Shakib is at 13th with 294 wickets currently.
Taskin Ahmed
Starting his international career in 2014, Taskin has become a dependable name for the Bangladesh cricket team. So far, 52 matches and taken 69 wickets with 5/28 best bowling figure.
Read More: England Men's Cricket Team Arrives Dhaka for White Ball Series
Taskin Ahmed has proven himself to be a devoted cricketer for Bangladesh, as he has recently declined an offer from Multan Sultans to play three matches of the current PSL in preference of playing against England. He appeared in 4 ODI matches against England and took 5 wickets, his best bowling performance being 3/47 against the English team.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz
England will never forget Miraz. He has an outstanding record against England, having made his Test debut against them on October 20, 2016. During that match, the English batsmen were unable to counter his skilled bowling, with Miraz taking six wickets in the first innings and one in the second. He then went on to play an ODI against England and claim two more wickets.
As a more experienced bowler now, Miraz has a total of 79 wickets in 67 ODIs for Bangladesh. Meeting England again after such a long time is sure to motivate him to give an even better performance.
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England Men's Cricket Team Arrives Dhaka for White Ball Series
The England men's cricket team landed in Dhaka on Friday morning for their first tour of Bangladesh since 2016.
The tour, which was originally scheduled for September and October 2021 but postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, consists of three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) to be played in Dhaka and Chattogram.
England captain Jos Buttler, who stated in December 2022 that he was looking forward to leading the world champions in Bangladesh, a country where they have not won an ODI series since 2010. He anticipates a challenging contest from the hosts.
The Bangladesh team has already begun preparations for the series starting on March 1 in Dhaka. Tamim Iqbal will lead Bangladesh in the ODI series, with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) having already announced the squad for the contest.
Also Read: BAN vs ENG Series 2023: England Squad Analysis
Chandika Hathurusingha will be coaching the Bangladesh team during the series. BCB reappointed Hathurusingha as the head coach for a two-year period following the departure of Russell Domingo. Hathurusingha will be in charge of all three formats of the game and expressed his happiness at returning to Bangladesh, hoping to continue his good work with the team.
The first two ODIs will be played at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on March 1 and 3, with the third ODI taking place at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on March 6. All the ODIs will begin at 2:30 PM local time.
The T20I series will start on March 9 at Chattogram, followed by two more matches on March 12 and 14 in Dhaka. All T20Is will begin at 6:00 PM local time.
BAN vs ENG Series 2023: Bangladesh ODI Squad Analysis
After a long wait of nearly seven years, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has made all the necessary preparations for the upcoming 3-match ODI and T20 series tour of England. The ODI series is scheduled to begin on March 1, with the second ODI to be played on March 3 and the third ODI on March 6. BCB has announced the Bangladesh ODI squad for BAN vs ENG Series 2023.
Players of Bangladesh ODI Team against England
Tamim Iqbal (captain), Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Ebadot Hossain, Taijul Islam, and Towhid Hridoy.
Read More: BAN vs ENG Series 2023: Key ODI Records, Who Holds Advantage in Records So Far
Bangladesh Squad Analysis
BCB announced the 14-member squad for the first two matches of the ODI series, whereas a new face, Towhid Hridoy, who spread light with the bat in BPL, got a chance. Meanwhile, five cricketers have been dropped from the 16-member ODI squad played against India last December.
Wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan Sohan, pacer Shariful Islam, top order Anamul Haque Bijoy, left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed, and middle-order batsman Yasir Ali Rabi lost their place in the team due to bad performance in this year's BPL.
However, Left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed did well in the India series. But he was not kept in the England series. In this regard, the selectors said that they had kept him in consideration for another edition. He might get a call for T20 or the last ODI.
Tigers' regular ODI captain Tamim Iqbal has returned to the announced ODI squad against England. The team captain was not in the series against India due to injury. Taijul Islam is also back.
Read More: Bangladesh vs England ODI Series 2023 Preview: Schedule, Fixtures, Team
Bangladesh cricket team selectors' team selection always raises many questions. Let alone the upcoming England series, and it seemed only a matter of time before Towhid Hridoy got a call-up to the squad after performing brilliantly in the BPL. As expected, he got a call from the team. However, the reason for the questioning is that he performed well in T20 but has been called up to the ODI squad! Hence, everyone will have an eye on him.
Key Batters
One of the best batsmen of the Bangladesh senior cricket team is the left-handed opener, Tamim Iqbal. This experienced opener had to stay out of the team for a long time due to injury. Finally, he is going to return to the team. Tamim is one of the most successful batsmen who played against England. So far, he has played 14 matches and scored 488 runs against England. With a high score of 128, Tamim has two centuries against the English team. So, it is expected that he will give his best as Tamim is returning after a long time.
Towhid Hridoy’s first appearance will be a key moment in this one-day series. As he got a chance in the national team based on his BPL performance, fans will be waiting for his ODI performance. Hridoy has scored 403 runs with the bat in this year's BPL season. Right-handed top-order batsman Hridoy scored this run at a strike rate of 140 with five fifties. Previously he played 49 ODI matches for the Bangladesh U19 team and scored 1624 runs with 5 centuries and 10 half-centuries. So, it is time to see if this experience benefits the Bangladesh team against England.
Read More: BAN vs ENG Series 2023: England Squad Analysis
Litton Das has been in good form recently. However, he has never played any ODI against England. So, we hope to enjoy his incredible batting against a new country. Recently he led Bangladesh against India last December. However, he did have the expected performance against India and scored only 77 runs in three ODIs. But he deserved praise because of his captaincy. He was successful in his first assignment as captain; Bangladesh won the series against India with one match in hand. Since he will not have extra pressure in this tournament, it is expected that Litton Das will be able to give his regular performance.
Bangladesh vs England ODI Series 2023 Preview: Schedule, Fixtures, Team
T20 World Cup and Cricket World Cup Champions England are going to visit Bangladesh for a white-ball tour in March 2023. Bangladesh will host England for three ODIs and an equal number of T20Is. The last time England visited Bangladesh was in 2016, with the ODIs resulting in a 2-1 victory for them. This will be the first time the two sides will face each other in a bilateral T20 series. Prior to this, the only T20 between the teams was during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021. Let’s see the previews, schedule, fixtures, and teams of the BAN vs ENG ODI Series.
Schedule
Table: Schedule and Venues
Match
Date
Time (Bangladesh Time)
Venue
First One Day
Wednesday, Mar 01, 2023
12 PM
Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur
Second One Day
Friday, Mar 03, 2023
12 PM
Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur
Third One Day
Mon, Mar 06, 2023
12 PM
Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong
First T20
Thu, Mar 09, 2023
6 PM
Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong
Second T20
Sun, Mar 12, 2023
6 PM
Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur
Third T20
Tue, Mar 14, 2023
6 PM
Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur
There is no red ball match this time. The first ODI in Mirpur is on March 1. The next match is a day later. The third and final ODI will be played at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on the 6th. The three-match T20 series will begin on March 9 in Chittagong. Both teams will return to Dhaka again for the last two matches of the series on the 12th and 14th.
The ECB has also announced two warm-up matches to be played on February 24 and 26 before the ODI series. England will arrive in Bangladesh on February 20 to play two series. The ODI series is part of the World Cup Super League. However, the participation of both teams in the World Cup to be held in India next year has been confirmed.
Read More: BAN vs ENG Series 2023: England Squad Analysis
Preview of BAN vs ENG ODI Series 2023
This series is a great opportunity for both teams to show their strength during the World Cup year. The ODI and T20 matches will be entertaining for the fans in Bangladesh and around the world. Bangladesh’s record on home ground is amazing, and we all know how great the England team is.
After 2016, the return of the English team to Bangladesh is exciting. Hence, the cricket atmosphere in Dhaka and Chittagong during this trip will be great. Since there is a great love for cricket across Bangladesh, the England team can expect a tough challenge against the team with a great record on the home ground.
Bangladesh has been having a great time on home ground as they just beat India in the ODI series last December. Bangladesh won the ODI series against India with one match in hand. After seven years, the whole world saw the roar of the Tigers against the superpower of cricket, India. And, now Bangladeshi fans can expect the same against England as the English are not getting all the regular players due to the New Zealand series.
At least 15 of England’s regular players are missing from the tour. England will play a two-match Test series against New Zealand from February 16. The series will end on February 28. So, the chances of not getting a player from there are high.
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Missing Players in England
Apart from the New Zealand series, the English cricket team will also miss some players due to injury and franchise cricket. Franchise cricket has become a major problem for the English selectors in announcing the team beyond the New Zealand series. Several cricketers of the team are contracted for the Pakistan Super League (PSL), which starts on February 13.
Stars like Alex Hales, Sam Billings, James Vince, and Liam Dawson are not on the team due to the emphasis on franchise cricket. They have informed us that they are not staying on the Bangladesh tour. Jonny Bairstow and Liam Livingstone will be rested due to injury. Captain Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Jason Roy, and Adil Rashid are coming to the Bangladesh tour. Even Mark Wood can return to the team.
Team
Although Bangladesh is yet to announce the squad, England has already announced the team for both T20 and ODI.
England has called up Tom Abell of Somerset, who has not yet been capped, for their limited-overs squads for the upcoming tour of Bangladesh. Abell, who will be the captain of the England Lions one-day side against Sri Lanka, also featured in the SA20 in South Africa recently. The teenage leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed has been given a maiden call-up to the white-ball squads due to his impressive performance in his Test debut at Karachi last December, where he took seven wickets at an average of 19.57.
Saqib Mahmood, a bowler from England, was given a chance to return to the ODI squad after playing in the Test side against West Indies in the past year. The player from Lancashire has obtained 14 ODI wickets with an average of 19.92.
Jofra Archer was also included in both T20 and ODI teams who just made a comeback against South Africa. On the other hand, Ben Stokes, Harry Brook, and Olly Stone have been omitted from the squad as they will be occupied for the test series against New Zealand. Surprisingly Alex Hales was not included in the team. Alex Hales was the second-highest run-scorer for England at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022, falling just behind Jos Buttler. However, Ben Duckett and Will Jacks will be featured in the T20 squad.
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England ODI squad:
Jos Buttler (captain), Tom Abell, Rehan Ahmed, Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Sam Curran, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, James Vince, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.
England T20I Squad:
Jos Buttler (captain), Tom Abell, Rehan Ahmed, Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Chris Jordan, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.
Probable ODI squad for Bangladesh:
Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Anamul Haque, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain, Yasir Ali, Mehidy Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Ebadot Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Mahmud Ullah, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Nurul Hasan Sohan.
England is Yet to Get a Broadcasting Partner
However, before the start of the series, it was feared that this series might not be seen in England. Because so far, no broadcaster in England has shown interest in buying the TV rights. Earlier in August 2021, no Australian broadcaster had shown the Bangladesh series during the Australian cricket team’s tour of Bangladesh. The Tigers won that series against the Aussies by 4-1. It seems this time, the broadcasters in England are also walking the same path.
According to a report in England’s Telegraph newspaper, so far, no television or radio in England has bought the broadcast rights of the Bangladesh series tour. In the end, if no organization comes forward, England cricket fans may not be able to watch the live games on their TV. In that case, fans may have to rely on streaming sites or the internet.
However, according to the Telegraph, the TV rights may eventually be bought by companies such as Sky Sports and TalkSport. Companies are leaning towards buying rights at a lower price.
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Final Words
This series was supposed to take place in September 2021. However, it was postponed as the English Cricketers wanted to play in the IPL, which was taking place in the United Arab Emirates. And eventually, there was no hope of taking place in this long-desired series. But the good thing is that Bangladesh vs English series 2023 is taking place, and it will be a great competitive event for both teams.
BAN vs ENG Series 2023: England Squad Analysis
After almost seven years, England is coming to Bangladesh to play the white ball series. BCB has completed all preparations for the 3-match ODI and T20 series in the 18-day tour. The ODI series will start on March 1. A day later, the two teams will face each other in the second ODI on March 3 and the third ODI on March 6. Bangladesh and England will play three T20 matches on March 9, 12, and 14. England’s cricket board has announced the team ahead of the upcoming two series. While Ben Stokes is not on the team, there is a surprise.
England Squad for Bangladesh Tour
Captain Jos Buttler will have to come to Bangladesh with a weak team due to the absence of several top stars. Opener Alex Hales had already informed us that he would not visit Bangladesh due to the decision to play Pakistan Super League (PSL). This time he is accompanied by stars like Sam Billings, James Vince, and Liam Dawson. Several other first-class cricketers will not be available in Bangladesh due to the Test series against New Zealand.
England’s white version team will come to Bangladesh on February 24 to play a three-match ODI and T20 series. On the same day, England will play the second Test against New Zealand in Wellington. Being in that team, Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Oliver Stone, Will Jacks, and Joe Roots are not available for the Bangladesh tour. Besides, two impressive batsmen, Jonny Bairstow, and Liam Livingstone are injured.
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PSL will continue during England’s tour of Bangladesh. The franchise is having a big impact on this tour because the ECB does not refrain from cricketers who are outside the central contract playing in these leagues. Rather, they are given the freedom to choose. That’s why Hales, Billings, Dawson, and Vince are not available.
According to ESPNcricinfo, the decision of the cricketers not wanting to come to Bangladesh has been positively taken by the ECB. In the absence of so many stars, England will see several new faces playing. In particular, some of England’ A’ team players were called up for this tour.
England's ODI Squad for Bangladesh Tour:
Jos Buttler (captain), Tom Abell, Rehan Ahmed, Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Sam Curran, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, James Vince, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.
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England's T20I Squad for Bangladesh Tour:
Jos Buttler (captain), Tom Abell, Rehan Ahmed, Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Chris Jordan, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.
England Squad Analysis for BAN vs ENG Series 2023
The England cricket team has announced a squad of 15 players for their upcoming tour of Bangladesh next month for both ODI and T20I.
Key Batters
Overall the whole English team will be dependent on Jos Buttler’s captaincy and batting. As of February 2023, Buttler played 162 ODIs and 103 T20Is. He has some significant records and experience, which will help him to lead the team against Bangladesh. Some of his records include 11 centuries in ODI, one century in T20Is, and more.
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England has included uncapped Somerset batsman Tom Abell in both T20 and ODI teams. Abell, who captains the England Lions one-day team against Sri Lanka, recently competed in SA20 in South Africa. Abell is a middle-order batsman who can bowl as well.
In County Championship 2022, he topped Somerset’s batting charts with 1039 runs and a remarkable average of 51.95. Additionally, in December, he participated in Sri Lanka’s domestic T20 league, the Lanka Premier League.
Key Bowlers
England’s new upcoming star spinner Rehan Ahmed has been called up for the first time to the white-ball squads after an impressive Test debut at Karachi in December, where he took seven wickets at an average of 19.57. With his test debut, Rehan became the England men’s youngest Test debutant.
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Further, he achieved a remarkable record on the third day of the match, becoming the youngest debutant to claim five wickets in a single innings in men’s Test cricket. Rehan’s chance in the ODI team will give him the opportunity to establish himself as the permanent spinner for England to replace Adil Rashid for the long term and to make a strong case for his selection for the ODI and T20 World Cups in 2023 and 2024.
Pacer Saqib Mahmood got a recall to the squad after playing his last Test match against West Indies last year. So far, he has taken 14 wickets in ODI cricket, with an average of 19.92. He is mainly a right-arm fast bowler, and he debuted for England in the international Twenty20 in November 2019, followed by his Test debut in March 2022.
In April 2019, Mahmood achieved a milestone for Lancashire by becoming the first bowler to take a five-wicket haul in successive List A matches during the 2019 Royal London One-Day Cup. Two years later, he accomplished a similar record in first-class cricket, taking 5/47 during the 2021 County Championship match against Yorkshire.
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Jofra Archer was also included in the T20 and ODI squad after his recent comeback against South Africa. Archer’s international debut was in May 2019 and he was also a part of the 2019 Cricket World Cup winning team.
After that, he made his Test debut in the following summer against Australia in the Ashes series 2019. Archer’s achievements were recognized in April 2020 when he was named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year.
Key Allrounder
Sam Curran will be a key player for the English team in the Bangladesh tour. He was the star of the 2022 T20 World Cup, taking the most wickets for England and being named Player of the Tournament. As a left-handed all-rounder, he bowls medium-fast and holds the English record for the best T20I figures of 5-10 against Afghanistan in 2022. So, it is evident that Curran will play a key role in the upcoming series as he is in the top form of his career.
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Few Changes in the T20 Squad
Will Jacks and Ben Duckett are set to join the team from New Zealand before the T20I series starts, with Chris Jordan also following for the T20I portion of the trip? Jason Roy, James Vince, and Mahmood, however, will be departing the tour after the ODI series is finished.
UK PM Rishi Sunak fined for not using a seat belt
U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was fined by police on Friday (January 20, 2023) for taking off his seat belt to film a social media video in a moving car.
Sunak, 42, has apologized for making an “error of judgment” while recording a message for Instagram from the back of an official government car during a visit to northwest England on Thursday.
The Lancashire Police force said it had looked into video “circulating on social media showing an individual failing to wear a seat belt while a passenger in a moving car in Lancashire.” The force said, without naming Sunak, that it had “issued a 42-year-old man from London with a conditional offer of fixed penalty.”
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Failing to wear a seat belt is punishable by a penalty of up to 500 pounds ($620), though fixed penalty notices for such offenses are usually 100 pounds ($124) if paid promptly.
The conditional offer means that the person fined accepts guilt but doesn’t have to go to court. Police didn’t say how much Sunak was fined.
Sunak’s office said in a statement that “the prime minister fully accepts this was a mistake and has apologized. He will of course comply with the fixed penalty.”
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It’s the second time Sunak has been fined during his political career. Last year, when he was Treasury chief, he was fined 50 pounds for breaching pandemic lockdown rules by briefly attending a party inside government offices. He was one of dozens of officials fined over the “partygate” scandal, including then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Sunak took office as U.K. leader in October, promising “integrity, professionalism and accountability” after a tumultuous few years that saw Johnson ousted by multiple scandals and his successor Liz Truss toppled after her policies rocked the U.K. economy.
World Cup exit leaves Southgate considering England position
After a third shot at a major tournament ended in disappointment, Gareth Southgate wants time to consider his future as England coach.
Southgate is under contract until December 2024, but after the 2-1 loss to France in the World Cup quarterfinals on Saturday, he could not guarantee he would stick around until then.
“Whenever I’ve finished these tournaments I’ve needed time to make the correct decision because emotionally you go through so many different feelings and the energy that it takes through these tournaments is enormous,” Southgate said after the match at Al Bayt Stadium. “I want to make the right decision, whatever that is for the team, for England, the FA. I think it is right to take time to do that.”
Southgate’s bosses at the English Football Association are certainly delighted with the progress the national team has made since he was hired in 2016.
Back then, England was in crisis after a humiliating loss to Iceland in that year’s European Championship. Sam Allardyce took over but lasted just one game and 67 days in charge after being filmed by undercover journalists offering advice on how to sidestep an outlawed player transfer practice and trying to cash in on his job with speaking engagements.
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The FA turned to Southgate and hasn’t looked back.
England made it to the semifinals of the World Cup in 2018 and lost on penalties to Italy at Euro 2020.
The quarterfinals exit against France is the earliest Southgate has been knocked out of a tournament.
“They could not have given any more. But, of course, tonight we have come up short. And we felt we could come here to win the tournament,” he said Saturday. “Tonight is probably the best, I think, we’ve played against a major nation across the period I’ve been in charge. In the end, the scoreline is all that matters, so that’s very hard to take.”
Southgate was jeered by England fans after a 4-0 loss at home to Hungary in June — its worst home defeat since 1928.
He has also been criticized for being too cautious in the biggest games.
But England dominated possession and chances against defending champions France — and if Harry Kane had converted his 84th minute penalty to tie the game, it could have been a different story.
Read: England vs France Quarter-final Preview: FIFA World Cup 2022
Kane had already struck once from the spot following Aurelian Tchouameni’s opening goal for France. But he fired his next effort over the bar after Olivier Giroud had restored France’s lead.
“We had better spells, better chances but football comes down to small details — as the captain and the one who missed the penalty, I take responsibility for that,” Kane said. “The team is in a really good place and there will be highs in the future. Standing here now, we are gutted it has come to an end as we had full belief we could go all the way.”
With Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka emerging as two of the standout stars of the World Cup, England has a core of young players to build around for Euro 2024.
The question is whether Southgate will be there to lead them.
“I know, in the past, how my feelings have fluctuated in the immediate aftermath of tournaments,” he said. “To go again is a lot of energy and you’ve got to make sure that you’re ready for that.”
England vs France Quarter-final Preview: FIFA World Cup 2022
France has never beaten England in a head-to-head match in the history of the World Cup. The English are far ahead in the overall fight between the two teams in the World Cup. But as of recent years, French has been ruling the football world. With such an atmosphere and context, the current world champion France will face England, who played in the last season’s semi-finals in the high-voltage quarter-finals of the ongoing FIFA Qatar World Cup 2022. Let’s take a look at the England vs France match preview to get to know more.
England vs France: Head-to-Head records so far
A total of 31 fights took place between England and France’s 100+ years old rivalry, of which England led with 17 wins, while France won nine. Five matches have been drawn. The two teams have met 11 times in the last three decades, with the French leading the way.
However, England has won twice in the World Cup. England defeated France 2-0 on the way to the World Cup title in 1966 and 3-1 in the group stage of the 1982 World Cup. France won three in the last five matches, England won one, and the remaining match was drawn. The French are hot favorites in this World Cup and will start today’s match as a favorite.
England’s performance so far in the 2022 World Cup
England has scored 12 goals in 4 matches so far in this World Cup. Which is their joint highest in any major tournament. In 2018, they scored 12 goals on their way to the semi-finals of the Russia tournament. England is advancing with power; in the round of 16, they beat Senegal by 3-0 goals.
However, history tells us that England’s departure from the quarter-finals has become a rule. Previously, the English had to leave the last eight in the World Cup in 1954, 1962, 1970, 2002, and 2006. They left the tournament after losing to a European team in six of the last eight World Cups.
Nevertheless, it is certainly admirable for England to go through three World Cup matches without conceding a goal. Coach Gareth Southgate now has another chance. As the first coach of the Three Lions, he can be the pioneer of England reaching more than one semi-final.
Among the English players, Harry Kane is now the highest goal scorer for England in a major tournament. The English captain surpassed Gary Lineker when he scored a goal against Senegal. Kane has 7 goals in total, compiling the 2018 and 2022 World Cup. He also assisted 3 goals in this tournament. So, all eyes will be on him.
There is no potential injury update for the England team. Hence, England will start the match with all the major players.
England’s players to watch:
Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Marcus Rashford.
England’s players carrying yellow cards:
None.
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France’s performance so far in the 2022 World Cup
On the other hand, France has played in the quarter-finals in five of the last seven seasons, including the last three World Cups. Coach Didier Deschamps’ side has won eight of their last ten knockout rounds against European teams.
Despite such success, they have some aspects of criticism. Because France has conceded goals in all four matches played so far in this World Cup. The champions will have to think more about this matter. Before this, France played twice against England in the 1966 and 1982 World Cup and lost each time. But they are ahead in recent performance.
Kylian Mbappe will be France’s trump card. He has scored five goals in 4 matches so far. The forward surpassed his 4 goals scored in the last World Cup. Mbappe showed his class at the World Cup in Russia. Statistics show that France has won all nine World Cup matches where Mbappe played in the starting XI.
France is playing in the quarter-finals as the first title defender after Brazil in 2006. As the defending champion, Italy went into the 2010 tournament and left on the group stage. Spain, the champion of the tournament, was eliminated from the group stage in 2014. Germany, which won the title in 2014, had a similar situation in the last edition.
Like England, France does not have any injury report. However, there were rumors that Mbappe did not come to the last training of the French because he felt some discomfort in his ankle. However, the matter was later denied.
France’s players to watch:
Kylian Mbappe, Olivier Giroud, and Hugo Lloris.
France’s players carrying yellow cards:
Jules Kounde, Aurelien Tchouameni.
Probable squad in the England vs France Quarter-final match
England's probable starting squad
Pickford, Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw, Henderson, Rice, Bellingham, Saka, Kane, Foden.
Probable starting squad of France
Lloris, Kounde, Varane, Upamecano, T. Hernandez, Tchouameni, Rabiot, Dembele, Greizmann, Mbappe, Giroud.
Quarter-final's England vs France Match Result Prediction
England has won just one of their last eight matches against the reigning champions. According to The Analyst’s supercomputer’s prediction, France has a 40.3% chance to win the game in 90 minutes, while England has 32.4%. However, there is a 27.3% of chance that the game will proceed to a penalty shootout.
Venue of World Cup 2022 Quarter-final England vs France match?
France and England will fight on the field next Saturday (local time) to get a place in the semi-finals. The matchup between the title holders and former champions will start at 1 am Bangladesh time at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor.
Read More: FIFA World Cup 2022: Quarter Final Overview
Final Words
The England vs France Quarter-final match is sure to be a thrilling one, with both teams having strong players and impressive recent performances. Ultimately, the result of this match is unpredictable and could go either way, but no matter who reaches the semi-final of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the fans of both teams can expect an entertaining match.
England's Ben White exits World Cup for personal reasons
England defender Ben White has returned home from the World Cup for personal reasons, the Football Association said Wednesday.
The FA didn't provide a reason for White's departure. The Arsenal center back isn't expected to join back up with England coach Gareth Southgate’s squad in Qatar after leaving the team's training base in Al Wakrah.
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“We ask that the player’s privacy is respected at this moment in time," the FA said in a statement.
The 25-year-old White didn't play in England's first two group matches against Iran and the United States, and was absent for the team's Group B finale against Wales.
England faces Senegal in the round of 16 on Sunday.
Read more: England wary of World Cup upset against US
Less than half of UK population Christian; rapid growth for Muslims: Census
Fewer than half the people in England and Wales consider themselves Christian, according to the most recent census — the first time the country's official religion has been followed by a minority of the population.
Britain has become less religious — and less white — in the decade since the last census, figures from the 2021 census released Tuesday by the Office for National Statistics revealed.
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Some 46.2% of the population of England and Wales described themselves as Christian on the day of the 2021 census, down from 59.3% a decade earlier. The Muslim population grew from 4.9% to 6.5% of the population, while 1.7% identified as Hindu, up from 1.5%.
More than 1 in 3 people — 37% — said they had no religion, up from 25% in 2011.
The other parts of the U.K., Scotland and Northern Ireland, report their census results separately.
Secularism campaigners said the shift should trigger a rethink of the way religion is entrenched in British society. The U.K. has state-funded Church of England schools, Anglican bishops sit in Parliament’s upper chamber, and the monarch is “defender of the faith” and supreme governor of the church.
Andrew Copson, chief executive of the charity Humanists U.K., said “the dramatic growth of the non-religious” had made the U.K. “almost certainly one of the least religious countries on Earth.”
“One of the most striking things about these results is how at odds the population is from the state itself,” he said. “No state in Europe has such a religious set-up as we do in terms of law and public policy, while at the same time having such a non-religious population.”
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Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell, one of the most senior clerics in the Church of England, said the data was “not a great surprise,” but was a challenge to Christians to work harder to promote their faith.
“We have left behind the era when many people almost automatically identified as Christian, but other surveys consistently show how the same people still seek spiritual truth and wisdom and a set of values to live by,” he said.
Almost 82% of people in England and Wales identified as white in the census, down from 86% in 2011. Some 9% said they were Asian, 4% Black and 3% from “mixed or multiple” ethnic backgrounds, while 2% identified with another ethnic group.