Two-time world champions and 2022 runners-up France face off against an ambitious Senegal side in their opening match. Senegal will look to overcome the disappointment of having the Africa Cup of Nations title snatched from them with a strong showing at the World Cup.
One final adventure for Didier Deschamps at the helm of France, who will lead the team in his fourth World Cup since taking over in 2012.
If France succeed and reach the later stages, Deschamps could break several records. First, the French manager has 14 wins in 19 matches, while the current record stands at 16 and is held by Helmut Schon. The German legend also holds the record for most matches coached at World Cup finals with 25, which could also be broken.
Neither of these goals will be easy to achieve, however, because Les Bleus have been drawn into one of the toughest groups alongside Senegal and Norway. France’s offensive firepower will be key, but Deschamps’ team has been conceding a lot of goals lately. If they don’t shore up their defense, they may get eliminated.
For Senegal, this marks their third consecutive World Cup appearance, having been eliminated in the Round of 16 in 2022 and failing to advance from their group in 2018.
Since the last World Cup, Senegal have only improved and boast an exceptionally talented generation of players. Their final friendly matches did not show their best side, which we remember from their performance at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Lions of Teranga are still waiting to find out whether the Court of Arbitration for Sport will restore the title they were stripped of. But that is unlikely to happen, so it is time for them to turn their full attention to the World Cup.
How the bookies view it: Expected advantage for the French
Bookmakers, of course, are backing Les Bleus to win this match, given that France have won each of their last three World Cup openers.
The odds difference is significant, with France currently available at 1/2, a draw at 33/10, and Senegal at 6/1.
Recent head-to-head: The Lions of Teranga stunned Les Bleus 24 years ago
France and Senegal haven’t played each other in 24 years, but even though that deprives us of useful information, that 2002 World Cup match, when Senegal won 1-0, is certainly still fresh in the minds of Senegalese fans.
That year, France failed miserably and didn’t win a single group stage match, just four years after becoming world champions. And it was then that Senegal achieved their best performance at a World Cup, finishing 7th after being eliminated in the quarterfinals.
Players to watch: Is Olise the best playmaker in the world?
The French squad is packed with so many stars that we could talk about them all day long. Kylian Mbappe will once again lead the attack, having been the top scorer at the 2022 World Cup with eight goals and two assists. However, the odds on him scoring aren’t particularly attractive if you’re looking for solid options.
That’s why, in this first match, we’ll also be keeping an eye on Michael Olise, the new Bundesliga Player of the Season and one of the top five favorites for the Ballon d’Or. The 24-year-old Bayern Munich star finished the season with 22 goals and 31 assists in 52 matches, and just a week ago scored a hat-trick against Northern Ireland in France’s final friendly match.
Backed a player to find the net? Check our Goalscorer Betting guide to see how the markets work and where to find value.
Probable line-ups
France: Maignan, Hernandez, Upamecano, Saliba, Kounde, Tchouameni, Rabiot, Olise, Doue, Mbappe, Dembele
Senegal: Mendy, Diouf, Niakhate, Koulibaly, Diatta, Camara, Gueye, Sarr, Mane, Diarra, Jackson
Anything else catch the eye?
The current Senegal squad certainly has its strengths, and after the first few matches of the World Cup, it has become clear that no one should be written off.
But Didier Deschamps’ squad is packed with champions from the highest level of club football. France have scored at least two goals in nine of their last nine matches. The exception is their surprising loss to Ivory Coast in a friendly earlier this month (2-1).
We expect a strong performance from Les Bleus at the start of the World Cup, but given their weak defensive play in recent months, we believe Senegal will also score at least once. Four years ago, France kept only one clean sheet in their seven matches.
GambleAware