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France kick off World Cup campaign, with Senegal looking to repeat 2002 upset
Les Bleus will be wary of carrying the favourites tag when they begin their quest for a third World Cup title against Senegal on Tuesday, 24 years after their shock defeat against the Lions of Terangโฆ
France 24 โ 15 June 2026
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Les Bleus will be wary of carrying the favourites tag when they begin their quest for a third World Cup title against Senegal on Tuesday, 24 years aft
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Franceโs opening match against Senegal in the World Cup is more than just a tournament curtain-raiserโitโs a collision of history, expectation, and the unpredictable nature of football itself. The stakes are immediate for Les Bleus, who carry the weight of being defending champions and one of the tournament favorites, but the shadow of 1998 and 2018 looms large. Their 1998 triumph as hosts was a unifying national moment, while their 2018 victory in Russia cemented their status as a modern footballing powerhouse. Yet the specter of Senegalโs 2002 upsetโa 1-0 victory in the group stage that derailed Franceโs title defenseโserves as a reminder that even the greatest teams can falter against the underdog. This time, Senegal arrives as a far more cohesive and tactically disciplined side under Aliou Cissรฉ, fresh off a strong AFCON campaign, while France grapple with injuries and a transitional squad.
The broader significance of this fixture extends beyond the pitch. Senegalโs rise under Cissรฉ has mirrored a broader shift in African football, where teams like Morocco, Nigeria, and Ivory Coast have consistently punched above their weight. Franceโs reliance on dual-national playersโmany of whom grew up in Franceโs banlieuesโalso reflects the countryโs complex relationship with identity and migration, a theme that resonates globally. For Senegal, a win could further legitimize their status as a force in world football, while for France, itโs an early test of whether they can reconcile ambition with the pressures of expectation.
What happens next hinges on several variables. Franceโs depth will be tested by the absence of key players like Kylian Mbappรฉ, whose fitness remains a question mark. Senegal, meanwhile, will need to show they can cope with the psychological burden of facing a superpower. A Senegal upset would echo 2002, but a French victoryโeven a narrow oneโcould signal their intent to dominate this tournament. Either way, this matchup underscores a broader trend: the World Cup is no longer a closed shop for Europe and South America, and the balance of power is tilting eastward and southward. The outcome in Qatar could either reinforce that shift or remind us that, in football, the past is always just one kick away from repeating itself.
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