Seeking a sensational repeat of their 2002 success against the World Cup 2026 favourites, Senegal face France in Tuesday’s Group I opener in East Rutherford.
The deposed African champions memorably stunned Les Bleus 1-0 over two decades ago, the beginning of a swift end for the then-defending champions.
Trailing only Spain in the favourites list to win the World Cup, France have many fans’ votes to exorcise the demons of 2022 and send trailblazing head coach Didier Deschamps off on the highest of highs this summer.
The only living man to have become a World Cup winner as a player and manager, Deschamps will vacate the hot seat for Zinedine Zidane once the 2026 edition draws to an end.
A 2-1 friendly loss to Ivory Coast on June 4 led to some doubt about France’s World Cup favourites credentials, but the Michael Olise-inspired Bleus got back on track with a 3-1 success over Northern Ireland four days later, meaning that they have now scored multiple goals in nine of their last 10 fixtures.
Also navigating their World Cup qualification campaign without a single defeat, Senegal have a third successive Mundial appearance to look forward to, after a 2022 last-16 exit succeeded a group-stage elimination in Russia.
The Lions of Teranga took home the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations trophy in between those two World Cup campaigns, and they could still claim to have conquered the continent in the 2025 edition too, if the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturns the landmark CAF ruling that went in Morocco’s favour.
Since ‘defeating’ the Atlas Lions in the AFCON showpiece, Pape Thiaw‘s men have bested Peru and Gambia in friendlies, but their preparations concluded in dismal fashion; a 3-2 loss to co-hosts USA preceding a 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia.
The latter result snapped Senegal’s 17-match scoring sequence across all competitions, but also marked a respectable fifth clean sheet from seven for the Lions of Teranga, whose head coach has the fondest memories of France at the World Cup.
France were rocked by reports that Arsenal’s William Saliba could miss the entire tournament after aggravating a back injury in the Champions League final, but fears over the centre-back were quickly allayed, and Saliba has returned to full training ahead of Tuesday’s match.
Fellow defender Jules Kounde is also good to go despite straining a muscle during the win over Northern Ireland, while number one Mike Maignan missed training on Saturday for load management reasons but is not nursing anything serious.
Headlining a fear-inducing front four, Kylian Mbappe enters the World Cup on 56 goals for France, putting him just one shy of the all-time men’s record set by Olivier Giroud in Qatar.
A man who will surely become Les Bleus’ leading male goalscorer comes face-to-face with Senegal’s unrivalled net rippler, as Sadio Mane – absent from the 2022 World Cup due to injury – is fit and raring to go this time around.
France possible starting lineup:
Maignan; Kounde, Saliba, Upamecano, T. Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Olise, Doue, Mbappe; Dembele
Senegal possible starting lineup:
Mendy; Diatta, Koulibaly, Niakhate, Diouf; Camara, P. Gueye; Sarr, Diarra, Mane; Jackson
Prediction
France have seldom failed to bring the entertainment in recent internationals, scoring and conceding in each of their last five games, while each of their last nine have gone above the three-goal mark.
Tuesday’s heavyweight tussle should be no different owing to the offensive quality on show, but the sheer firepower at Deschamps’s disposal should comfortably carry the 2022 runners-up over the line.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
