England advanced to the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup with a 3-0 win over Senegal on Sunday.
Goals from Jordan Henderson, Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka helped the Three Lions keep their fight for Qatar glory on track with victory at Al Bayt Stadium.
The comfortable nature of the victory will only fuel the belief of England fans that their 56-year wait for silverware is about to come to an end.
Here’s what her path to winning the trophy might look like, and it might be difficult.
MORE: England vs Senegal result: Henderson, Kane and Saka score to send Three Lions into last eight.
Quarterfinals: England vs. France
Since the draw, this lap has been circled by many England fans as a sink or swim moment. If Southgate’s men are to improve on their semi-final run at the 2018 World Cup and runners-up at Euro 2020, it was always likely they would have to face a heavyweight nation in the quarter-finals. France meets Poland in the round of 16.
Holders France qualified for Group D with a game to go and progressed to finish first in the draw’s England team.
Didier Deschamps’ side have been hit by injuries like Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kante and Karim Benzema. It has merely shown the country’s enviable talent, albeit not as deeply, after nine substitutions resulted in a lackluster 1-0 defeat by Tunisia in the final group game.
Kylian Mbappe looked ominous as he scored in the 4-1 opener against Australia after scoring from Les Bleus with a crucial brace following a 2-1 win over Nations League tormentors Denmark.
MORE: Watch every World Cup game live with fuboTV (free trial only in US)
Semifinals: England vs. Spain or Portugal
Portugal are more or less home and hosed as Group H winners and Fernando Santos’ side would look set to overtake Group F runners-up. They could meet England in the semifinals.
The nations fought a number of close encounters during Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup, with the Selecao winning on penalties each time. The only survivor of these games on both sides? A certain Cristiano Ronaldo.
Spain have not won a World Cup knockout game since winning the cup in 2010. If they can do that against Morocco, after a surprise drop to second place in Group E may have given them a cheaper route, then an Iberian derby in the quarters is likely.
Luis Enrique’s side have not won since their brutal 7-0 opening win against Costa Rica. Still, there’s a typically nice balance in their midfield play and Alvaro Morata has achieved contemporary goalscoring form with three goals out of three.
MORE: World Cup injuries 2022 tracker: List of players who could miss Qatar final as Neymar and Pulisic face last 16 fitness races
Final: England vs. Brazil or Argentina
Brazil have looked the most complete team in the tournament so far and appear to be by far the strongest of those likely to end up on the other side of the draw against England.
Tite’s men are aiming for their sixth title and their first since 2002 when they beat England in the quarter-finals. To the delight of neutrals everywhere, a semi-final showdown with bitter rivals Argentina could be imminent.
Lionel Messi and his team-mates were stunned by a 2-1 win against Saudi Arabia in the opener before the leading man launched a nervous 2-0 win over Mexico. Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez scored as Argentina produced their best performance of the tournament to defeat a tepid Poland and Group C leaders.