All of our players who were involved in Wednesday’s FIFA World Cup round of 32 have made it through to the competition’s last 16.
Our four England players - Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke - all played their part as the Three Lions came from behind to beat DR Congo 2-1.
Brian Cipenga fired DR Congo into a surprise early lead, but a late Harry Kane brace setup a clash with Mexico at 1am UK time on Monday.
Madueke played 61 minutes on the right wing before being replaced by Saka, while Rice got the full 90 minutes under his belt and moved over to right-back after Djed Spence was replaced by Eze in the 71st minute.
It was Eze, Saka and Rice who combined on the right with a smart passage of play before Anthony Gordon could cross for Kane’s equaliser.
Speaking after the game, Rice said: "It was probably the hardest 12 minutes of the game having a stint at right-back. In games like that it was probably too much of a basketball match at times, back and forth, and we had to take the sting out of it because they have fast wingers. I think we made more hard work of it than we needed to.
"I have played there two or three times this season, I know the role, it is probably not my biggest strength, but to do anything for the team and the manager. [With] 12 minutes left I said I would do my best and I think I did well there. Let's see what happens next game, but hopefully I don't have to be at right back."
Eze added: “We knew we’d have to continue doing what we were doing from the start of the game. Their goal knocked our confidence a bit but we did well to come back. We know what we’re capable of, we’ve got what it takes to win games. To do it in that fashion was special.”
A few hours later, Belgium also booked their place in the last 16 as they came from 2-0 down against Senegal in dramatic fashion to win 3-2 at the end of extra-time.
Goals from Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr had Senegal two up in the 51st minute, but 86th and 89th-minute strikes from Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans respectively took the game to extra-time.
The latter was assisted by Leandro Trossard, who whipped a cross in for Tielemans to head home, and it was Tielemans who stepped up from the penalty spot in the 125th minute to send Belgium through in style.
They will take on USA at 1am UK time on Tuesday, July 7.
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Source: Arsenal.com
