France vs. Senegal Opens Festivities

(Thursday, May 30, 2002) - On Friday all eyes across the world will be on the opening match of the 2002 World Cup from Seoul, South Korea (ESPN2 at 7:25 a.m. ET). In what has become a World Cup tradition, the defending champion (France) will open defense of its crown.

In a match full of intrigue, 1998 winner France will take on Senegal in what is also the opener for Group A and the first ever meeting between the two nations. Defending champs have gone 2-2-3 in openers since the tradition began in 1974 and the last loss came when Cameroon defeated Argentina in the curtain-raiser in Milan at Italia '90. The hype surrounding Senegal has grown to a level that an upset is not being ruled out of the question on Friday.

The goals of the French are clear in this World Cup: to repeat as World Cup Champions. Such is the strength of his squad that France Head Coach Roger Lemerre has stated that: "France's main rival at this World Cup is France itself."

One reason behind that belief is the legacy of the '98 championship run: France has become a team which knows how to win. With the core of the '98 squad returning, with four years of experience and a Euro 2000 and Confederations Cup (2001) championship to boot, many bet France will be at the final on June 30 in Yokohama, Japan.

Despite losing key left midfielder Robert Pires of Arsenal, the English Premiership Player of the Year, the French will still be chasing history. They will look to become only the third ever champion to repeat after Italy (1934, 1938) and Brazil (1958, 1962), and thus permanently mark this era of French soccer as one of the best in world history.

France's only real Achilles' heel is in defense, where the retirement of Laurent Blanc has left a void, to be filled by the much criticized Frank Leboeuf. With the likes of world-class players such as Marcel Desailly and Lilian Thuram, the belief is the French back line will be able to overcome any single player's deficiencies.

Senegal

While as defending champions, France automatically qualified for the tournament, Senegal was forced through the grinder of a difficult qualifying group which included Algeria, Egypt and Morocco. With those names, Senegal was not among the favorites but won passage to its first ever World Cup in its last match, in which a 5-0 victory over Namibia meant they would advance on goal difference.

Despite a coaching change which saw German coach Peter Schnittger replaced by the Frenchman Bruno Metsu in January 2001, the team has seemingly proceeded without a hitch. Coming into the Korea/Japan tournament, the Senegalese side has no obvious weakness. The squad's strength begins with its well-organised defense led by captain and central defender Aliou Cissé. He is joined in the center by Lamine Diatta while Lens defender Ferdinand Coly takes the left back spot and Omar Daf is stationed at right back.

The midfield is a slick and gifted unit led by the graceful Khalilou Fadiga and the anchor - Salif Diao. Moussa N'Diaye and Pape Sarr are the wing midfielders in the 4-4-2 setup.

The man everyone will be watching, however, is forward El Hadji Diouf of French club Lens. He netted eight of Senegal's 14 goals during qualifying and today is one of Europe's hottest commodities. Alongside Diouf will be Henri Camara, with Souleymane Camara a potent option off the bench.

Senegalese forward El Hadji Diouf scored eight of the team's 14 goals during World Cup Qualifying.

Soccer legend Pele has gone on record as saying Senegal is the worst team in the entire tournament but the perception surrounding the Senegalese has changed. There is now a belief that the Lions of Teranga may be have what it takes to pull off an upset reminiscent of the 1990 Cameroon side.

“I believe my team have the ability to compete with the very best,” Metsu said. “The only thing I fear is the pressure and that my players may get intimidated.”

The French Connection

Adding to the drama of the match is the fact that Senegal, a country located in West Africa, was a former French colony which gained independence from France over 40 years ago. The country will be no pushover as it has proven it is one of its continents best squads. In fact, Senegal reached its first African Nations Cup final in February, losing on penalty kicks to reigning Olympic champions and fellow World Cup hopefuls Cameroon.

With 21 of the 23 Senegalese players plying their trade with clubs in France, the Africans believe that will be a decided advantage for them. In stark contrast, only five of 23 players on the French roster play domestic soccer, with all the others spread across Europe's biggest clubs.

The Senegalese Frenchman

One of the storylines of this match sees French central midfielder Patrick Vieira going up against the country in which he was born. The 25-year-old Arsenal midfielder left Senegal for France when he was eight and still has a number of relatives in the former French colony.

"I am really excited about playing Senegal. I think they can do well in the tournament and of course it means a lot to me," Vieira said from French camp in Seoul, South Korea. "This is a celebration for me. It is a gift that the games have fallen this way. I will never forget it. I have aunts and uncles who still live there and I have been on the telephone with them this week. To the people back there, this is the biggest game that their team have ever played."

Zidane's substitute

The blockbuster news of this first week of World Cup play is the fact that one of the world's greatest players, France's creative playmaker Zinedine Zidane, may have to miss not only the first match against Senegal, but also the second one vs. Uruguay due to a torn thigh muscle suffered last Sunday in an exhibition against South Korea. If France has already qualified for the second round by the third game on June 11 against Denmark, it is practical to think that he could also sit that one out.

While not gifted with the same skill as Zidane, Youri Djorkaeff (above) is a creative player who can also finish.

Despite Zidane's big-match performances (including two goals against Brazil in the '98 final), France has managed to play reasonably well without sparks of genius. Four years ago, at France '98, he missed two matches due to a red card suspension and the team played uninspired soccer but still made it through.

One difference this year is that "Les Bleus" can boast three of Europe's goal scoring leaders in Thierry Henry (24 goals for Arsenal led English Premiership) and David Trezeguet (24 goals for Juventus led Italy's Serie A). Coming off the bench will be Djibril Cisse of Auxerre, who led the French Le Championnat with 22 goals.

"Our team would be stronger with Zidane in it but we don't have any option," Vieira said. "Anyway, we have lots of great players. We can manage. We have players like Youri Djorkaeff, for example, who can play in Zidane's position." The hole left by Zidane behind strikers Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet is indeed expected to be filled by 34-year-old Djorkaeff, who only three months ago the forward was facing a summer on holiday as he sat on the substitutes' bench at Kaiserslautern in Germany early during the 2001 club season.

A loan move to Bolton Wanderers in the English Premier League resurrected his international career just in time for the World Cup. However, he it is not yet clear whether Bolton will sign him on a permanent basis.

"I know that Bolton cannot win the Premiership next season but if they have a team capable of competing for the spots just outside the top five then it could work for me and the club," Djorkaeff said. "I need to see Bolton's ambition. We'll talk. The coach knows where I am."

Senegal's Defense One Of World's Best:

Senegal conceded only one goal in six African Nations Cup matches, losing to Cameroon in the final in a penalty kick shootout after the two teams played to a 0-0 draw. The result was the Senegal's best ever finish in the competition.

During World Cup Qualifying, the team conceded just three goals in 10 qualifiers. Only Croatia, which conceded two, conceded fewer goals in qualifying across the world.

Defense was also what helped carry the French to the World Cup title as they conceded just two goals in seven games in their run to the title.

Will Fadiga Be Charged?

Senegal's match will be played under a cloud as local Korean authorities are still undecided on whether to press charges against midfielder Khalilou Fadiga, one of Senegal's top playmakers.

He was investigated by police for allegedly stealing a gold necklace. Daegu police said that the Auxerre (France) player would still be available for Senegal to play in the World Cup opener against France on Friday. The police plans to recommend that local prosecution not indict Fadiga due to the light theft charges.

Fadiga was booked without being put in detention Tuesday after stealing the necklace, worth 300,000 won (US$233), at a shop in downtown Daegu, a southern provincial city where the team training camp is located.

Expected Lineups:

France: (4-3-1-2) GK Fabien Barthez - D Lilian Thuram, D Marcel Desailly, D Frank LeBoeuf, D Bixente Lizarazu - M Patrick Vieira, M Emmanuel Petit, M Christophe Dugarry - M Youri Djorkaeff - F Thierry Henry, F Davide Trezeguet

Senegal: (4-4-2) GK Tony Sylva - D Omar Daf, D Aliou Cisse, D Lamine Diatta, D Ferdinand Coly - M Pape Sarr, M Salif Alassane Diao, M Khalilou Fadiga, M Moussa N'Diaye - F El Hadji Diouf, F Henri Camara

France Group A schedule:

May 31 - France vs. Senegal (7:25 a.m. ET on ESPN2)
June 6 - France vs. Uruguay (7:25 a.m. ET on ESPN2)
June 11 - Denmark vs. France (2:25 a.m. ET on ESPN)

Senegal Group A schedule:

May 31 - France vs. Senegal (7:25 a.m. ET on ESPN2)
June 6 - Senegal vs. Denmark (2:25 a.m. ET on ESPN2)
June 11 - Uruguay vs. Senegal (2:25 a.m. ET on ESPN2)

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