England midfielder Declan Rice is anticipating a ‘tough test’ against Senegal in the round of 16 of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The Three Lions are scheduled to face Aliou Cisse’s men at the Al Bayt Stadium on Sunday after they finished as Group B leaders.
Sunday’s meeting between England and Senegal would be the first time both countries will face off on World Cup stage but Rice is aware of the threats the African champions pose to their qualification chances.
“They’re a really strong athletic team,” the West Ham United star said in a press conference on Thursday. “We didn’t get to watch the Ecuador game but we’ve been watching the other games.
“We know it’s going to be a really tough test. We’re onto a bigger test, we want to win and if you don’t, you’ll go home. We don’t want that.”
Senegal finished second in Group A behind the Netherlands after goals from Ismaila Sarr and Kalidou Koulibaly powered them to a 2-1 triumph over Ecuador in their final group fixture.
The Teranga Lions’ best finish at the World Cup has been the quarter-final which they achieved at the 2002 edition in Korea/Japan.
