GARETH Southgate’s England fired nine goals in their group games, and Harry Kane didn’t get one of them. There is an awful lot to unpack from that seemingly straightforward sentence.

First off, the Three Lions have never scored nine goals before in the group stage of a World Cup, their previous best posted four years ago in Russia, also under Southgate. Yet this is a man derided for cautiously navigating his way through competitions.

His team’s tally this year is the equal of England’s goal-scoring contribution to group games at the 2006, 2010 and 2014 World Cups combined.

Since Harry Kane burst onto the international scene seven years ago this is also the first time England have racked up nine consecutive goals without the Spurs ace getting on the score-sheet. While this seriously dents the 29-year-old’s chances of becoming the first player to win two Golden Boot awards he is, to his considerable credit, compensating in other ways. With three to his name, no-one has more assists to this point in Qatar.

Over 2.5 shots by Kane, England to win the most corners, and over 1.5 offsides for Senegal offers up 4/1 as a bet builder.

Kane’s absence from the headlines has produced another unlikely blessing in disguise, because prior to the tournament there were widespread concerns that Southgate wouldn’t fully utilise the wealth of attacking talent he had at his disposal. In the event, just three contests in, England already have six different goal-scorers on the board. Again, this is a World Cup record for the Three Lions at this early juncture.

What makes this deluge of positivity all the more remarkable is that really, we’re only talking about two matches – the 6-2 drubbing of Iran and a relatively routine outclassing of Wales – because in between these two highpoints, like a buzzkill turning up at a party, there was a goalless stalemate with USMNT that dampened spirits, playing out as a drab throwback to last summer. It was a reminder that England have been far too predictable and passive at times in 2022. It was a warning that they could be again.

Under 0.5 goals for England in the first half is worth considering at 41/50.

Enough though with the nagging doubts, because that bore-fest against the USA feels like history now, supplanted since by a lively display in Al Rayyan that saw off what little resistance the Welsh had left.

Key to their improvement was the inclusion of Phil Foden, who probed and relentlessly sought out space to do more probing, and even if the Manchester City prodigy completed only 24 passes throughout, it was his intent and ambition that made the difference, epitomised by an individual run in the 50^th minute that led to England’s opener. There are only two other players in the squad inclined to get their head down and take on a cluster of opponents and Jack Grealish typically isn’t afforded the opportunity to, while Raheem Sterling hasn’t been so direct for quite some time.

It was a declaration to make something happen that England will need more of going into the knock-outs and a whole nation sees that.

Will Gareth Southgate though, as he faces arguably the toughest selection call of his six-year tenure. When stationed on the left, Foden energized England last Tuesday, and it also matters hugely that he is the most technically gifted talent in the group.

Sterling however has started 15 of the 17 tournament games his manager has overseen and then there’s Bukayo Saka, who was brilliant against Iran, just as he was brilliant for Arsenal in the build-up to this tournament. Add in Marcus Rashford, currently the joint leading goal-scorer in Qatar, and Southgate’s most trusted creative Mason Mount, and honestly this is the hardest line-up to predict for many a year.

Guaranteed starter Kane aside therefore, this leaves us a touch distrustful of the goalscoring market and player specials, especially as there are infinitely more tempting areas to explore given that England’s last 16 opponents are Senegal, a well-put-together side who are dangerous on the break and difficult to break down, but who ultimately will succumb if Southgate’s men are on their game.

England to win, under 2.5 goals and no to BTTS is available at 39/20 as a bet builder.

Since taking on the national job in 2015, Aliou Cisse – himself a defensive-minded player back in his PSG and Portsmouth days – has shrewdly built his team around the Lions of Teranga’s totem and best player Kalidou Koulibaly, thus accruing a defensive record that has consistently impressed. In 2022, Senegal have played 20 competitive matches and been breached just 12 times, equating to a goal conceded every 157.5 minutes. It should be noted though that five of those concessions have come in recent weeks, with last year’s AFCON champions now facing superior opposition to AFCON group minnows and qualifiers.

Senegal committed nine fouls per game in their group endeavours. Over 2.5 cards for the uncompromising underdogs feels like good value at 19/20.

At the other end meanwhile, Watford’s Ismaila Sarr is a genuine threat, a forward who has twice scored at the expense of Harry Maguire against Manchester United, and twice got the better of Liverpool, and to illustrate the attacking merits of Senegal we only need compare the shot counts in this World Cup of the respective teams, with the African side ahead. Pertinently though, it is England who have hit the target more, with Boulaye Dia particularly erratic in his shooting.

All told, England should be fancied to progress to the quarters, but it will be tight, and it will be tense, with extra-time entirely plausible. One area however, where the 13/25 favourites might find some joy is ironically within the remit of Senegal’s greatest strength, at the back. Because in their beating of Ecuador this week we saw a breakdown in communication lead to La Tri equalise from a corner and this is not the first time Cisse’s side have been remiss at set pieces. That of course is England’s most potent weapon.

Perhaps then, that goalscoring market is of interest, after all. Step forward Harry Maguire, your renaissance awaits.

Back the Manchester United defender to score anytime at 19/2.