AL RAYYAN, Qatar — England defeated Wales 3-0 at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium on Tuesday to top Group B, setting up a round of 16 tie next Sunday against Group A runners-up Senegal.
Gareth Southgate’s side scored twice in two minutes after a goalless first half as Marcus Rashford fired in a superb 50th-minute free-kick before Phil Foden slotted home from Harry Kane‘s pass.
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Rashford then added his second on 68 minutes as Wales’ first World Cup appearance in 64 years ended in a group stage exit for the first time at a major tournament.
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Rapid Reaction
1. England advance with Southgate’s changes paying off
Sometimes a change can do you good. Gareth Southgate was expected to freshen up his England team after a lacklustre showing against the United States and he made four alterations, drafting in Marcus Rashford, Phil Foden, Jordan Henderson and Kyle Walker.
A subdued opening 45 minutes followed where England were once again guilty of moving the ball too slowly, although Wales set up with a low defensive block and limited ambition, determined to stay in the game as long as possible. England came out with greater purpose in the second half and it was Rashford who provided the spark from a dead ball situation, smashing a 50th-minute free-kick past Danny Ward, who will regret taking two small jumps to his right as the ball flew to his left.
The clamour for Foden’s inclusion had been widespread and he justified those calls with a well-taken second to essentially kill off Wales’ hopes with so much time remaining that Southgate was able to rest key players with Sunday’s game against Senegal in mind.
And after Southgate was criticised for his in-game management against Wales, it should be noted Foden’s goal was in part the product of Rashford and the Manchester City winger switching flanks moments earlier.
