Arsenal legend, Tony Adams, has urged England manager Gareth Southgate to allow striker Marcus Rashford to exploit Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly when both teams clash in the 2022 FIFA World Cup round of 16 tie on Sunday.
Adams believes Koulibaly is Senegal’s weakness, adding that the Chelsea defender will get exposed in a one-on-one situation without the help he needs around him.
England head into the round of 16 stages following convincing wins over Wales and Iran in the group stages, while Senegal defeated Ecuador and Qatar.
“As a defence, you’ve to make play predictable, you’ve to be solid, and you’ve to work together, making sure there are no holes, communicating with your keeper, your full-backs and your midfield,” Adams told the Sun.
“Koulibaly will get exposed one versus one without the help he needs around him, and that is when the likes of Marcus Rashford can exploit him.
“I remember our old Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger getting us to do one vs one in training using the whole pitch.
“There was a lightning-quick Thierry Henry against me.
“I have got no full-backs or midfield in front of me, and Thierry, with his pace and skill, just went past me.
“I walked in and said to Arsene: “Don’t ever do that to me again. I have spent my whole career playing, so I don’t get into that situation by working with the rest of the defence.
“That was how I was so successful, making sure the unit was always solid, and no one was left isolated.”