England set up a titanic World Cup quarter-final against holders France as Jude Bellingham's masterclass inspired a 3-0 win against Senegal in the last 16 on Sunday.
Gareth Southgate's side survived a nervous start at the Al Bayt Stadium before Jordan Henderson and Harry Kane put Senegal to the sword with a pair of clinical finishes before half-time.
Bukayo Saka scored England's third, but it was Bellingham's prodigious work-rate and burgeoning quality in possession that allowed them to turn the tide.
Bellingham set up Henderson's opener and the Borussia Dortmund midfielder was involved again when England captain Kane bagged his first goal in this World Cup.
Kane has now netted 11 times at major tournaments, overtaking Gary Lineker as England's all-time top scorer in those competitions.
But at the tender age of 19, it is Bellingham who has emerged as England's driving force.
He is the first teenager to assist in a World Cup knockout stage game since 1966, having already announced his arrival on
the global stage by netting his first England goal in the 6-2 rout of Iran in their group opener.
Just two years after he was playing in the English second tier with Birmingham, the precocious Bellingham was totally unfazed against Senegal in the biggest game of his life.
England will need another command performance from Bellingham if they are to extend their stay in Qatar beyond the last eight.
Eyeing a third successive semi-final appearance at major tournaments, England will return to the Al Khor desert on Saturday to take on the red-hot Kylian Mbappe and company after France brushed aside Poland 3-1 on Sunday.
Euro 2020 runners-up England have won only one of their last eight meetings with France, who pose a significant threat to their hopes of winning a first major title for 56 years.
The depth of attacking talent available to Southgate could be crucial and, defending his decision to drop Marcus Rashford for Saka despite the forward's double against Wales, he boasted "we have an embarrassment of riches in all areas of the pitch".
‘ready for France’
Harry Kane hailed England's serene progress to the World Cup quarter-finals after scoring his first goal of the tournament in a 3-0 win over Senegal in the last 16.
The Three Lions have now won a knockout game in three consecutive major tournaments for the first time to set up a mouthwatering clash against reigning champions France in the last eight on Saturday.
"Knockout games are never easy. We showed great maturity through the tournament," Kane told ITV after moving to within one goal of Wayne Rooney's record of 53 for England.
"The mentality was top from the beginning and we took our chances when they came."
At 29, Kane is one of the senior players in Gareth Southgate's squad on a night when youngsters Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka again showed their promise.
Saka scored his third goal of the tournament, while Foden provided two assists and Bellingham was heavily involved in the opening two goals.
"All three of them having big parts in the goals. We've got a great mixture of youth and experience now and another knockout win," added Kane.
"Over the years it's not been easy for England, so to win 3-0 it's a really great night."
France will pose a much tougher test of England's hopes of winning a first major tournament since 1966.
Kylian Mbappe was in stunning form for Les Bleus as he scored twice in a 3-1 win over Poland on Sunday to move clear as the top goalscorer in the tournament with five.
"We'll enjoy this one but then our focus turns to that, it's going to be a really tough game," said Kane.
"They are reigning champions but it's a good battle."