Chesney Hawkes is performing at half-time at England vs Wales – no, really

Singer Chesney Hawkes reacts during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match between Wales and England at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on November 29, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.
(Image credit: Shaun Botterill - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Chesney Hawkes is performing at half-time during England vs Wales at World Cup 2022. Nope, we're not sure why, either. 

Most half-time shows at the tournament in Qatar have featured exciting light shows and Coldplay's A Sky Full of Stars but for the all-British clash, the World Cup organisers have drafted in 80s popstar Hawkes.

The singer is wearing an England shirt with a number four on it, weirdly. Why not a one, Chesney? Missed a trick there, son. 

Harry Maguire of England controls the ball during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match between Wales and England at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on November 29, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.

Harry Maguire of England controls the ball against Wales (Image credit: Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

There haven't been many moments to savour – aside from a bonkers Harry Maguire run

Gareth Southgate gave Phil Foden his first-ever World Cup start, in for Bukayo Saka on the righ, with Marcus Rashford on the opposite flank in for Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson replacing Mason Mount, in three changes. Rashford very nearly found the breakthrough in the first 10 minutes, too, charging beyond the Welsh defence when Harry Kane dropped deep to slide him through. Danny Ward, however – in for the suspended Wayne Hennessey – rushed out to meet the oncoming Manchester United forward. 

England ramped up the intensity around 20 minutes, however, knocking the ball around with a little more confidence as the Welsh backline sat deeper. Neco Williams went down with a head injury to half the momentum though – to be replaced by Connor Roberts – and the tempo barely picked up for the rest of the half. Ward only made his second save of the half deep into injury time when he rose to meet a John Stones header from a corner, while on the stroke of half-time, Wales worked a short throw when England were expecting a long one – and Joe Allen blazed over the bar. 

Mark White
Content Editor

Mark White is the Digital Content Editor at FourFourTwo. During his time on the brand, Mark has written three cover features on Mikel Arteta, Martin Odegaard and the Invincibles, and has written pieces on subjects ranging from Sir Bobby Robson’s time at Barcelona to the career of Robinho. An encyclopedia of football trivia and collector of shirts, he first joined the team back in 2020 as a staff writer.