France vs. Senegal: Three reasons why Lions of Teranga can repeat 2002 World Cup shock in Group K

For the 2nd clip this millennium, Senegal manager Pape Thiaw could witnesser a seismic World Cup daze from the dugout, astatine the disbursal of a heavily-favoured France outfit.

The existent Lions of Teranga caput manager was an unused substitute erstwhile Senegal stunned Les Bleus 1-0 during the 2002 radical stage, which France entered arsenic the defending champions but ended up suffering the astir humiliating of aboriginal exits.

Twenty-four years later, Didier Deschamps prepares for a past World Cup creation arsenic France boss, and his fear-inducing harvest are unsurprisingly among the main contenders to conquer the globe earlier helium hands the reins implicit to Zinedine Zidane.

But is past astatine hazard of repeating itself for the 2018 champions? Here, Sports Mole explores 3 reasons wherefore Senegal could marque Mundial lightning onslaught doubly and repetition their 2002 heroics successful Tuesday's Group K game.

Why Senegal tin stun France: Didier Deschamps's antiaircraft concerns

Pinpointing a circumstantial weakness successful this France harvest mightiness beryllium excessively gangly an bid for some, but it is just to accidental that Deschamps's defence does not transportation the aforesaid gravitas arsenic the Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise-inspired attacking force.

Les Bleus are surely not abbreviated of standout names successful defence - William Saliba, Jules Kounde and Dayot Upamecano among them - but they person conceded astatine slightest 1 extremity successful each of their past 5 games against Northern Ireland, Ivory Coast, Colombia, Brazil and Azerbaijan.

The 2022 runners-up besides shipped 3 goals crossed 2 fixtures with Iceland during the Qualifying process, and Deschamps has had to woody with fittingness concerns surrounding Saliba and Kounde successful the lead-up to Wednesday's game.

Neither antheral is expected to beryllium this 1 out, but determination are fears that Saliba mightiness person to acquisition surgery once the World Cup concludes, truthful the Arsenal antheral whitethorn not beryllium operating astatine 100% throughout.

Why Senegal tin stun France: Embarrassment of attacking riches

Much has been made of the ferocious firepower astatine Deschamps's disposal - and rightly truthful - but overlooking the Senegal onslaught would beryllium an enactment of folly, arsenic veterans and primers alike person been shining astatine nine and planetary level of late.

The Lions of Teranga did gully their last warm-up affable 0-0 with Saudi Arabia, but Thiaw's men had scored successful 17 consecutive games anterior to that, including aggregate efforts against the USA, Gambia and Peru.

Star antheral Sadio Mane comes into the tourney having registered 23 combined goals and assists for Saudi Pro League winners Al-Nassr past season, portion Ismaila Sarr struck 21 times for Conference League champions Crystal Palace.

The much-maligned Nicolas Jackson besides amassed a respectable 15 involvements for Bayern Munich, Bamba Dieng netted 16 times for Lorient, and Iliman Ndiaye earned links with Liverpool and Manchester United acknowledgment to 9 nonstop Premier League contributions successful an Everton kit.

Why Senegal tin stun France: The African curse

Past results tin seldom beryllium earmarked arsenic a beardown indicator of aboriginal outcomes, but France person traditionally struggled to get the amended of African teams successful group-stage games this broadside of the millennium.

Including the 1-0 reverse to Senegal successful 2002, Les Bleus person been defeated successful 3 of their past 4 World Cup group-stage matches against CAF representatives, astir precocious to Tunisia successful Qatar.

Deschamps oversaw a 1-0 nonaccomplishment to the Eagles of Carthage - a daze effect adjacent if Les Bleus did marque changes with qualification already secured - and the 2018 winners were besides upset 2-1 by South Africa successful 2010.

Furthermore, with a manager who tin accidental 'I was there' erstwhile Senegal bushed France 24 years ago, the Lions of Teranga person each the know-how needed to prolong Les Bleus' blues successful this battle.