MetLife opener asks early questions of France
MetLife Stadium hosts Group I’s curtain-raiser on Monday night, a high-stakes opening for a France side expected to set the pace and a Senegal team determined to repeat its habitual disruption of European royalty. The format rewards fast starters; three points here could trim most of the stress from the section for whichever squad finds rhythm first.
France tactical brief
Didier Deschamps’ staff have treated the last international windows as rehearsals for a 4-2-3-1 that tilts left. Theo Hernández drives the overlap, Kylian Mbappé begins wide before finishing centrally, and Antoine Griezmann keeps the half-spaces knitted together. Aurélien Tchouaméni anchors alongside Eduardo Camavinga or Adrien Rabiot, the mandate clear: control the middle third, free the front four. Defensive line remains fluid, with Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba expected to pair if Raphaël Varane’s fitness checks don’t trigger a late change. Staff emphasis all week: sharp rest defence, instant counter-press once possession flips.
Senegal tactical brief
Aliou Cissé has drilled a compact 4-3-3 with Ismaïla Sarr and Sadio Mané threatening in transition. Central trio—Idrissa Gana Gueye, Pape Matar Sarr, and Pathé Ciss in training—aim to clog Mbappé’s lanes by screening Hernández’s lane and forcing France wide early. Kalidou Koulibaly’s leadership remains central, but the pace of Moussa Niakhaté or Abdou Diallo beside him will be vital if Senegal hold a higher line. Here we go: set-pieces have been a recurring focus, with Koulibaly and Boulaye Dia rehearsed for near-post runs against France’s zonal setup.
Key match-ups
- Mbappé vs. Koulibaly: France’s captain prefers isolations on the left; Senegal could double with Youssouf Sabaly stepping tight, leaving Koulibaly to patrol depth. Any mistiming opens the inside channel that Mbappé exploits.
- Griezmann vs. Pape Matar Sarr: Griezmann drops to dictate. Spurs’ midfielder must decide whether to follow or hand him off—Cissé cannot allow France to overload centrally without resistance.
- Set-piece duels: France rely on Griezmann’s delivery and the aerial force of Upamecano and Rabiot. Senegal counter with Koulibaly and Dia, and have rehearsed second-ball strikes for Bamba Dieng.
Numbers to watch
- France unbeaten in their last 11 World Cup group matches (7W, 4D) since 2010.
- Senegal have taken points off European opposition in three of their four most recent World Cup meetings.
- Mbappé averages 0.88 non-penalty goals per 90 in World Cup play; Mané’s equivalent for Senegal across competitive fixtures since 2021 sits at 0.62.
Projected XIs
France (4-2-3-1)
Maignan; Koundé, Upamecano, Saliba, Hernández; Tchouaméni, Camavinga; Dembélé, Griezmann, Mbappé; Kolo Muani.
Senegal (4-3-3)
Mendy; Sabaly, Koulibaly, Niakhaté, Jakobs; Pape Matar Sarr, Gana Gueye, Pathé Ciss; Ismaïla Sarr, Dia, Mané.
Outlook
France target composure and tempo control to prevent Senegal’s transitions from dictating the rhythm. Senegal counter with a narrower block, quick release to the wingers, and the knowledge that an early upset re-writes the group narrative. Whoever graduates from this opener faces Norway next; points banked in East Rutherford could allow rotation later in the fortnight.
