Can the biggest Dark horse of this FIFA world cup 2022 "Senegal" shock everyone?
The FIFA World Cup 2022 finals will feature five African nations that qualified through the CAF. Senegal, winners of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, is most likely to proceed the farthest in Qatar. Can they, however, improve previous efforts?
Led by Head Coach Aliou Cisse
The nation's football is something that head coach Aliou Cisse cares deeply about. same, what it means to represent one's nation. He is speaking from personal experience and expertise because he was the captain of the Lions of Teranga. Up until this year, when he managed Senegal to victory at the Africa Cup of Nations, he held the armband during the country's greatest victories.
Cisse was the first captain to lead Senegal to an Africa Cup of Nations final, but they fell to Cameroon on penalties in 2002. (he missed one himself).
Despite the setback, he and his group rose to their feet and prepared for a bigger stage. Senegal first made it to the World Cup finals in 2002.
Cisse made it back to the final in the 2021 competition, his fifth Afcon campaign (two as a player and three as a manager). His players respond to his enthusiasm for representative football and his love of the game, as well as his steadfastness and stoicism in the face of often harsh criticism.
"I think this man deserves all the success he gets," Sadio Mane said of his coach following their semifinal victory. "This man is the most criticised coach I have ever seen, but he never gives up," Sadio Mane added. Cisse has a strong sense of persistence.
Senegal World Cup Squad
At your peril, undervalue the quality on this Senegal team. Some have experience in the top tier, having played for clubs at the highest level around Europe. Others present youthful excitement, which includes limber legs and a desire to shine in front of everyone. a combination that can be fought against by any resistance.
Best Up Front
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Sadio Mane is currently the most well-known football player from Senegal. The former Liverpool player is off to a tremendous start in Bayern Munich, where he recently transferred. At the Africa Cup of Nations, he was named Player of the Tournament and will spearhead the attack for his nation.
Mane, one of the squad's more experienced members, is 30 years old and is the superhero that every Senegalese child dreams of becoming when they grow up.
Ismaila Sarr, a 24-year-old winger who has been the focus of much transfer market rumour, will provide support for Mane. He is now playing for Championship team Watford and the most recent rumoured team to express interest is Manchester Utd.
Midfield strength
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Watch out for Iliman Ndiaye, a 22-year-old midfielder. He has been mentioned as a possible solution for Liverpool's Roberto Fermino conundrum at Sheffield Utd. As an offensive midfielder, he needs be more aggressive and push forward.
Even younger is Pape Matar Sarr, who won't even be 20 when he arrives in Qatar. Although he is named on Tottenham's squad, he spent the 2021–22 Ligue 1 season with Metz.
With the help of Nampalys Mendy and Cheikhou Kouyate of Leicester City, who can tuck in and play more defensively, Aliou Cisse can balance this youth with experience. Kouyate left Crystal Palace and is now a free agent. He might still move to Nottingham Forest.
Solid defenders
Captain Kalidou Koulibaly, a world-class defender in anyone's opinion, is in the middle of the defence. He is incredibly strong in both the tackle and on the ball, but it is not all he is capable of. He recently scored an impressive opening goal for Chelsea after his GBP33 million transfer from Napoli.
Abdou Diallo of PSG is positioned behind the captain in the middle of the backfield. Koulibaly is 31 years old, Diallo is 30, wiser, more experienced players who can organise the defence and maintain composure when necessary. The best possible combo for a coach.
Bouna Sarr, a right back for Bayern since 2020 who can also play higher on the wing, is far away from them. He shares that left back ability with Saliou Ciss, which is concerning for any opposition, and plays that position for Nancy in Ligue 1.
That might cause problems for the other team's midfielders during transition on a fast counterattack.
Star Goalkeeper
Edouard Mendy of Chelsea, a new teammate of the captain, is positioned in goal. voted best keeper at the Africa Cup of Nations and best goalkeeper by FIFA in 2021. It's difficult to ask for more.
Is this talent good enough to advance through the quarterfinals?
Senegal 1-0 France: World Cup 2002
The footballing world was treated to something quite unique in Seoul on Matchday 1 of the 2002 World Cup as Senegal pulled off one of the biggest upsets ever on the first day of the competition.
The current World Champions were France, who had defeated Brazil 3-0 to win the title on their own grounds four years prior.
Superstars like Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, David Trezeguet, Emanuel Petit, Djibril Cisse, Fabien Barthez, and team captain Marcel Desailly were all part of the squad that day.
There were some solid elements to add some spice: Former colonial authority of Senegal was France. On that particular day, every player for Senegal's squad was a French league pro. Bruno Metsu, a Frenchman, served as the team's coach.
Trezeguet, who had been set up by Henry, had the first serious opportunity in the 22nd minute, but he rattled the right hand upright. El Hadji Diouf quickly broke down the left in the 30th minute and crossed into the box. Papa Bouba Diop pounced to scramble the ball past a diving Barthez after the uncharacteristically porous French defence made a mess of it.
Bruno Metsu said It wasn't a nice goal but it was a very significant one.
Khalilou Fadiga came close to making it 2-0 but struck the crossbar 19 minutes in, and Henry did the same just 90 seconds later, but France was unable to tie the score.
Henry was given one more opportunity as the 45th minute neared, and his shot forced a superb save from Tony Sylva, the backup goalkeeper who had a stellar performance that day. A late corner presented no genuine threat. When the game was over, Senegal had won, a victory that is still remembered today.
Senegal advanced from Group A to meet Group F winner Sweden after a 1-1 draw with Denmark and a 3-3 tie with Uruguay. They advanced to the quarterfinals against Turkey thanks to a golden goal by Henri Camara in the 107th minute, but the dream was broken in extra time.
Group A
Senegal, Netherlands, Ecuador, and the tournament host Qatar are all in Group A.
According to the FIFA world rankings alone, Senegal (#18) and Netherlands (#8) will go ahead of Ecuador (#44) and Qatar (#50). The next question is whether Senegal can defeat Netherlands to claim the group's top spot.
The Netherlands will travel to Qatar with plenty to prove after underwhelming on major soccer stages in recent years, failing to qualify for Russia 2018 and losing in the Round of 16 at Euro 2020. However, perhaps this offers Senegal the ideal chance to seize their momentum.
We do know that this side has the talent and capability to test anyone on any given day. The Netherlands should be alert just because of this reason.
Even though the Dutch are expected to be the clear favourites, it can be worthwhile to support the underdog.
Senegal round of 16 possible opponent
Teams who win their respective groups face the team that placed second in the corresponding group that they were in.
In the draw, the group A champion will face the group B runner-up. In the opening round of the knockout rounds, the second-place group A team plays the group B champion.
England, the USA, Iran, and Wales are in Group B. In terms of world rankings, Wales (#19) and Iran (#20) should not be eligible compared to England (#5) and the United States (#16). Although the United States and Wales are closely matched, England are the clear favourites.
Second-placed Senegal will take on first-placed England if the results of both groups match the assumptions given by the rankings. The USA or Wales would compete against the Netherlands, the group's winner.
You can be sure that both teams will enter the tournament's first game conscious that they are also competing to avoid playing England in the initial round of the knockout stages.
Obviously, it would be difficult to beat the current England team, which is far from unbeatable. You'd be silly to discount Senegal's chances against either the USA or Wales.
Can Senegal be able to reach the quarterfinals again?
Nevertheless, if Senegal prevails in their opening knockout round game, who will they most likely face next?
Senegal's Round of 16 game would be the 51st match, assuming they finished second behind the Netherlands in Group A. The winner of match 51 will face the winner of match 52, which will feature the second-place team in Group C and the top team in Group D.
Group D consists of Tunisia, France, Australia, and Denmark. Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Mexico, and Poland make up Group C.
Australia and Tunisia are outliers in Group D, where France is the clear favourite and Denmark is expected to come second.
Argentina are the group C favourites, and we anticipate some outstanding football against Mexico and Poland.
The match 52 is between France and either Mexico or Poland if France wins Group D and Argentina wins Group C.
Wouldn't a rematch with France in the quarterfinals be something special? Sport occasionally produces cyclical, poetic matchups.
It could be a far shot, but when can you dream big if not on the biggest stage?
