Belgium vs Senegal LIVE: Team news and latest updates after major injury blow ahead of World Cup clash

Belgium have had the advantage of being settled in Seattle over the last few weeks, with Rudi Garcia’s side remaining in their base camp city for both this game and the next round – if they get there. In a tournament where travel may become more and more of a talking point, that feels a possible advantage.

England captain Harry Kane scored twice to secure a comeback victory against DR Congo and send the Three Lions into the last-16.

They will take on Mexico this Sunday.

In the other side of the draw, Belgium and Senegal are competing to see who will advance and potentially set up a clash with World Cup co-hosts USA.

The United States fae Bosnia-Herzegovina tonight;

Belgium manager Rudi Garcia was keen to talk up the importance of his wider squad ahead of this game, insisting that his first XI mattered little with substitutions just as important.

Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Saelemaekers had registered off the bench against New Zealand and will remain in those roles for this contest.

Senegal XI: Diaw; Jakobs, Diatta, Niakhate; I. Gueye, Ciss, Diarra, P. Gueye; Mane, Ndiaye, Sarr

Belgium XI: Courtois; Theate, Mechele, De Cuyper, Castagne; De Bruyne, Tielemans, Vanaken; Trossard, Doku, De Ketelaere

Perhaps surprisingly, Belgium and Senegal have never previously met – it feels like the sort of friendly that should have happened once, surely?

Back to the build-up to today’s tie in a moment, but the winners could very well face the United States in the next round. It’s Bosnia & Herzegovina for Mauricio Pochettino’s men a little later – Kieran Jackson wonders if the co-hosts can keep the World Cup boom…well, booming:

This feels like the last dance for much of Belgium’s “Golden Generation”, who never quite achieved the tournament success it felt like they ought to. Which isn’t to say that they’ve not hit real heights for a nation not previously blessed with such talent. Richard Jolly assesses the situation.

Belgium boss Rudi Garcia, meanwhile, has cautioned that Germany’s exit to Paraguay shows that their place as favourites is far from a guarantee of advancing as this World Cup. “There are no small (in stature) squads,” Garcia said. “Even if you’re a favourite on paper, which was the case for Germany, you can lose.”