The last time that France and Senegal met, the Lions of Teranga shocked the world by upsetting the defending champions in the opening match of the 2002 World Cup.
The only goal of the match, scored by Papa Bouba Diop, introduced the soccer world to Senegal and set the tone for one of the most chaotic World Cups in history. It also carried significant historical weight, coming 32 years after Senegal gained its independence from France.
A quarter-century later, Senegal has established itself as one of Africa’s soccer powerhouses. A win for the Lions of Teranga on Tuesday at MetLife Stadium would still be a significant upset, but nowhere near the stunner they pulled off in Seoul.
Senegal vs. France odds, prediction
France has been a picture of stability on the international soccer scene, and there is one man to thank for that.
Didier Deschamps took over Les Bleus in 2012, just two years removed from an infamous scandal at the 2010 World Cup that saw the players essentially mutiny against then-manager Raymond Domenech. Deschamps calmed the waters, and his pragmatic approach has been a perfect fit for France.
Les Bleus went to the final at Euro 2016, won the 2018 World Cup, and then were runners-up in 2022. Deschamps will step down from his post at the end of this tournament, but he’s got a terrific chance to leave the game on top. France is essentially a co-favorite with Spain to lift the trophy.
Deschamps is known for his low appetite for risk, but his approach continues to pay dividends for France. Of course, it helps to have a roster full of stars.
With Kylian Mbappe, Desire Doue, and Ousmane Dembele leading the attack, France doesn’t need to be perfect defensively, but Deschamps wants that to be the focus. His philosophy is that if the team commits itself to playing smart without the ball, they just need a moment of magic from one of its stars to be the difference.
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Finding those moments may not be all that easy against Senegal.
The Lions of Teranga have plenty of attacking flair with Sadio Mane, Iliman Ndiaye, and Ismaila Sarr, but they’re also a real chore to deal with when they don’t have the ball. The ageless Idrisse Gana Gueye is an expert and snuffing out potential danger, and the center-back partnership of Kalidou Koulibaly and Moussa Niakhaté has the potential to be one of the most formidable duos in this tournament.
They’re also backed up by a fantastic goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy.
Given France’s habit of playing with caution, and Senegal’s defensive chops, this game is unlikely to spiral out of control.
The Play: Under 2.5 goals (-110, FanDuel)
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Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
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