France vs Senegal lineups: Predicted XIs, confirmed team news, injury latest for World Cup | OneFootball

Tricky decisions facing both managers in heavyweight Group I clash

France face Senegal on Tuesday in what will be both sides’ first match of the World Cup, and both managers have tricky selection decisions to make.

It is a must-win match for both sides, who will both expect to record victories over Norway and Iraq in later group stage fixtures and can send a warning shot to their World Cup rivals with a strong performance.

Didier Deschamps led this team to the World Cup final in 2022 but was handed a considerable fitness headache when Arsenal star William Saliba arrived in camp with a back injury, which some suggest may require surgery later this summer.

But reports coming out of the team seem to suggest he will be fit to feature in this challenging opening fixture against AFCON finalists Senegal. He will likely partner Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano in the centre of defence, though Real Madrid star-to-be Ibrahima Konate will be waiting in the wings to come in should his injury flare back up.

Set to start: William Saliba

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There are plenty more decisions to be made. Adrien Rabiot and Aurelien Tchouameni are perennial starters in holding midfield, but Deschamps must pick four starters out of his embarassment of attacking riches.

Kylian Mbappe will, of course, lead the line, but the three men behind him are up for debate. Michael Olise has been brilliant in warm-ups, scoring a hat-trick against Northern Ireland, and should keep his place off the right here.

That squad does, however, leave considerable firepower in Rayan Cherki, Bradley Barcola and Marcus Thuram on the bench.

For Senegal, the big decision facing Senegal gaffer Pape Thiaw is which system to use. The side has experimented with a back three and a back four in recent friendlies, but facing the mighty attack of France, he will likely opt for the more solid option.

In the wings: Ibrahim Mbaye

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To revert to a back four would see the likes of El Hadji Malick Diouf and Krepin Diatta take up full-back roles, with Moussa Niakhate and the veteran captain Kalidou Koulibaly in the middle. Former Chelsea shot-stopper Edouard Mendy is nailed on.

There are very few questions to be asked in midfield, which features plenty of top-flight talent. Idrissa Gana Gueye will sit centrally in a holding role, with Villarreal’s Pape Gueye and Habib Diarra of Sunderland either side of him. Pape Matar Sarr of Tottenham is also an option, but should remain on the bench after a middling season at club level.

Up top, a front three of Sadio Mane, Nicolas Jackson and Illiman Ndiaye must put in tidy performances, with plenty of attacking talent on the bench waiting to usurp them. Among their number are the likes of PSG wonderkid Ibrahim Mbaye and Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr.

Predicted France XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Hernandez, Upamecano, Saliba, Kounde; Rabiot, Tchouameni; Doue, Dembele, Olise; Mbappe

Injured: None

Predicted Senegal XI (4-3-3): Mendy; Diouf, Niakhate, Koulibaly, Diatta; Pape Gueye, Gana Gueye, Diarra; Mane, Jackson, I. Ndiaye

Injured: None