England's greatest strength mirrored by that of Senegal

Almost every night throughout this World Cup, the England squad have gathered together in a huge TV room, to watch the games and discuss what they see.

- MIGUEL DELANEY

They don't sit in cliques but rather as one big group, Jack Grealish often bouncing around between people. It has struck staff how so few ever spend time sitting in their rooms on the PlayStations and instead spend time together.

Brazil have most stood out for the players, and the general feeling is that if England are to actually win this World Cup then they will have to defeat Tite's side. The squad had taken note of Senegal even before it was confirmed they would meet in the last 16, and their quality has been noted. England are expecting a robust challenge.

"We've all been watching every game so we have a slight understanding between us players of what they're like, and I think they'll be very athletic," Jordan Henderson says. "Good players as well, and I think they're quite high on confidence as a team, as they won the Africa Cup of Nations. They are used to winning."

Through that, Henderson and many of his senior teammates have perceived something different in Senegal. It is something they recognise because England have it, too.

It isn't anything tactical or to do with quality, although it is actually as important to winning a tournament as both of those qualities. It isn't really momentum, either. It's deeper than that.

It's a unique unity that carries a team through, that ensures setbacks don't sap the group and doubt doesn't seep in.

"I'd say the togetherness of this group is the closest it's been," Henderson says. "I thought Russia was close at the time but we've been through things together. In Russia, [gone] through the Euros, and experiences like that do make you stronger. I feel we're in a really good place together at the moment, a really good team spirit, the work ethic and intensity in training, pushing each other on."