FIFA World Cup Match Preview: Senegal vs Netherlands

Group A 

Senegal v Netherlands 

Match preview

The Lions of Teranga come into this global showpiece as African champions and perhaps with the continent’s eyes on them to deliver a miracle. 

It’s a second World Cup in a row for coach Aliou Cissé, and by now he knows the lay of the land, albeit in different terrain this time. 

Senegal are favourites to get out of the group alongside Netherlands, their opening fixture in the tournament and a real test to see whether both sides are as good as we all think. 

The Oranje are again led by a mentor with even more mileage in these sort of scenarios – Louis van Gaal, came out of coaching retirement last year to be appointed by the Netherlands FA for a third time, taking over from Frank de Boer. 

What Cissé brings to the table with his tactical nous against Van Gaal’s possession play should be easy on the eye this early in the tournament. 

Team News

Senegal 

Who will take the place of key man Sadio Mane? 

That’s the question the world is asking after the Bayern Munich star was ruled out on the eve of his national team travelling to Qatar although the medical team had hoped the leg injury was not worse than first feared. 

Several names have been touted as possible replacements – Boulaye Dia, Famara Diedhiou, Bamba Dieng, Nicolas Jackson, Iliman Ndiaye, Ismaila Sarr – all forwards who can step up when given a chance. 

Netherlands 

They are unbeaten in the previous six matches from all competitions, and eager to make a statement to world football that they remain a powerhouse following the shock of missing out on the 2018 tournament in Russia. 

Some pundits have highlighted the lack of individual star quality in the team picked by Van Gaal, but that could very well be the ace up their sleeve. 

Players to watch

Boulaye Dia

Age: 26

Club: Salernitana (Italy, on loan)

Senegal has never been short of burly strikers with power and pace, something Boulaye Dia offers in abundance at club level. 

A lot of the talk is that English Premier League clubs are also watching how he fares at this World Cup to make a move for him when the transfer window opens – with Mane not around, this is his shot. 

Luuk de Jong 

Age: 32

Club: PSV Eindhoven 

Has finally shrugged off a troublesome calf injury that delayed his integration into the PSV Eindhoven squad as a marquee signing this season. 

The fact that teammate Memphis Depay has also been a bit part player at Barcelona, where there are doubts over his future means Van Gaal could look to the veteran De Jong to carry the goal scoring responsibility.