Conor Gallagher remained an unused substitute while Raheem Sterling was absent for family reasons.

The final score in Sunday’s second knockout game was England 3 Senegal 0 with the goals coming from Jordan Henderson, Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka.

The first two of those goals came in a first half in which Senegal had very good chances to take the lead before going behind but they were not taken. With England more ruthless with their opportunities, it ends Senegal’s hopes of matching their own record of progressing as far as any African nation in the World Cup by making it to the quarter-final stage.

Instead it is England who will now play France on Saturday after Les Bleus' 3-1 victory over Poland in the day’s earlier game.

Before the full teams were announced ahead of kick-off, the England national team released the news that Sterling was not available for selection due to him dealing with a family matter.

While Mendy and Koulibaly started the match for the African champions, Mount and Gallagher were again named on the England bench with Gareth Southgate making just one change from the side that beat Wales in their final group game. Saka replaced Marcus Rashford.

Senegal were missing Everton midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye who was suspended. Sadio Mane of course had been ruled out pre-tournament due to injury.

Early in the game there were moments of concern for both teams’ defences when put under pressure. Mendy got a faint touch on an England cross at the start of a good period of play by the Three Lions, but then midway through the half came a big let-off for Southgate’s men.

A Harry Maguire pass was cut out and though from a cross an initial shot was blocked by John Stones, it broke for a close-range chance for Ismaila Sarr but the Watford player scooped it over the bar.

It then took a very good save by Jordan Pickford to keep the Lions of Teranga from taking the lead, that danger coming from a Saka mistake deep in his own half. It was Boulaye Dia’s shot that Pickford kept out with a strong arm.

Instead it was England who would go into the break two goals ahead. For the first goal, Jude Bellingham made an advance down the left and when he crossed low, Henderson swept the ball home.

Kane then shot over for England and Koulibaly cut out a testing cross, but on the stroke of half-time Kane was able to find the Senegal net after a penetrating move from the Three Lions half involving Bellingham and Phil Foden.

Mendy kept out a Kane shot not long after Senegal had made three half-time substitutions but before long Saka made the score 3-0 from close range after Foden had squared the ball.

Mount came on with quarter-of-an-hour left on the clock for this third appearance at this World Cup.

Following their third goal, it felt as if a composed England were playing within themselves, conserving something for a big challenge that awaits against the World Cup holders. Senegal had missed their moment with those first-half chances not taken when England briefly wobbled.