Senegal and France will play their opening group game at the 2022 World Cup on Tuesday in New Jersey. The match evokes memories of the 2002 World Cup opener, where Senegal defeated reigning champions France 1-0.
Key Details
- Senegal manager Pape Thiaw was a player in the 2002 match. France manager Didier Deschamps had retired before 2002 and was not involved.
- France's 2022 squad includes 10 players with no major tournament experience and 12 with no World Cup minutes.
- France enters the match as defending champions, having won the 2018 World Cup.
Team Changes
- Kylian Mbappé has been appointed captain, replacing Hugo Lloris, France's most-capped player.
- Other key retirees since the 2022 final include Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezmann.
- Manager Deschamps has emphasized humility and avoided comparisons with the 2002 team, which failed to advance from the group stage despite strong attacking talent.
Tactical Considerations
- Deschamps has used Ousmane Dembélé in a central role in recent warm-up matches, but Dembélé has historically struggled with the national team.
- France's attack in 2002 featured multiple league top scorers but scored no goals in the tournament.