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FIFA World Cup 2018 team analysis: Senegal bank on pace, Mane to repeat 2002 success

FIFA World Cup 2018 team analysis: Senegal, with star Sadio Mane, need to win against Japan and either Poland or Colombia to qualify from Group H.

Sadio Mane, Liverpool and Senegal winger (Image: Twitter)

Country: Senegal

Placed in Group H also featuring Colombia, Poland and Japan

Fixtures:

Senegal vs Poland, June 19, at 8.30 pm (Moscow Spartak)

Senegal vs Japan, June 24, at 8.30 pm (Ekaterinburg)

Senegal vs Colombia, June 28, at 7.30 pm (Samara)

FIFA ranking: 28


World Cup fixtures | Groups and points table

Group H analysis</a> | Teams' analysis: <a class=Poland | Japan | Colombia" title="Group H analysis | Teams' analysis: Poland | Japan | Colombia" />Group H analysis | Teams' analysis: Poland | Japan | Colombia


Previous World Cup: Did not qualify

Last appearance: 2002 (eliminated from quarterfinals by Turkey)

Best finish: Quarterfinal finish in 2002

Star players: Sadio Mane (winger for Liverpool), Kalidou Koulibaly (defender for Napoli), Diafra Sakho (striker for Rennes)

Coach: Aliou Cisse


Senegal coach Aliou Cisse was part of the 2002 World Cup team that scripted history by beating 1998 champions France in their first encounter and eventually making the quarterfinals. The story of their qualification is an interesting one - Senegal lost to South Africa in Group D but FIFA overturned the defeat and ordered a replay after finding the referee Joseph Lamptey guilty of match-fixing. Senegal won the replay 2-0 in November 2017 to book their Russia berth.

Having put the controversy behind them now, the African side will look for inspiration from their in-form forward Sadio Mane, who made the UEFA Champions League final with Liverpool recently. While pace is inherent in the squad, everything depends on how well the Lions of Teranga come together as a unit.

The other teams in the group will be wary of the athleticism prevalent in the Senegal ranks and will employ tough defenders against their world-class wingers.

Two central midfielders Cheikhou Kouyate and Idrissa Gueye can switch into defensive midfielders in the Senegalese team, helping Mane and Keita Balde push forward.

Koulibaly is a top defender but he needs support from his fellow central defenders, especially when they come up against Poland and Colombia, who both have poachers in Robert Lewandowski and Radamel Falcao respectively. Given that goalkeeper Khadim N'Diaye does not have experience playing in Europe, Senegal need all the luck they can get.


Prediction: Senegal need to win against Japan and pull off a draw against one of the big teams in the group to progress.


Germany</a> | <a class=Mexico | Sweden | South Korea" title="Germany | Mexico | Sweden | South Korea" />Germany | Mexico | Sweden | South Korea

Belgium</a> | <a class=England | Panama | Tunisia" title="Belgium | England | Panama | Tunisia" />Belgium | England | Panama | Tunisia

Story first published: Saturday, June 16, 2018, 0:32 [IST]
Other articles published on Jun 16, 2018