FIFA World Cup
World Cup 2018: Poland vs Senegal Preview
Moscow, Russia – Senegal will be looking to get the first win for an African country in this World Cup against Poland. Liverpool’s Sadio Mane leads the Senegalese team that returns to the World Cup since 2002 where they defeated defending champions France. The Lions of Teranga, however, have to first par against Poland and star player Robert Lewandowski.
Lewandowski scored 16 goals in only 10 games in their European group stage, more than any other player. In addition, he scored 41 goals for Bayern Munich in all competitions. On the other hand, Mane comes from a recent Champions League defeat against thirteen-times champion Real Madrid. However, Mane scored 20 goals in all competitions for the Reds and his best performance thus far.
Aliou Cisse
Senegal manager Cisse is the only black coach at this year’s World Cup. Nigeria, Morocco and Egypt are respectively led by coaches from Germany, France and Argentina. “I am certain that one day an African country will win the World Cup,” he said. “It was some 25 years ago that African countries regularly came just to be a part of the World Cup. I think that things have developed but it’s more complicated in our continent – we have realities that are not evident in other continents. We trust our football, we have no complex, we have great players, now we need African coaches for our football to go ahead.”
Cisse captained the team that represented Senegal in their only previous appearance that reached the quarterfinals in Korea/Japan. No African country has passed the the quarterfinals of the World Cup. Africa’s best performance have come from Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010. So far, no African team have won a game despite the stars on those teams. Senegal’s staff includes Tody Sylva and Omar Daf, Cisse’s teammates in the 2002 World Cup squad. Former Rennes, Lyon and Newcastle defender Lamine Diatta is also part of the coaching staff.
“It’s true that I am the only black coach in this World Cup,” he said. “Football is a universal sport. It is good to see there is a black coach but, beyond football, it shows we have quality coaches. I represent a new generation that would like to have its place in African and world football.
In addition, Cisse is the youngest coach at this World Cup.
Possible line-ups:
Poland: Wojciech Szczesny; Maciej Rybus, Michal Pazdan, Jan Bednarek, Lukasz Piszczek; Kamil Grosicki, Jacek Goralski, Grzegorz Krychowiak, Jakub Blaszczykowski, Piotr Zielinski; Robert Lewandowski
Senegal: Khadim Ndiaye; Lamine Gassama, Kara Mbodji, Kalidou Koulibaly, Youssouf Sabaly; Pape Alioune Ndiaye, Cheikhou Kouyate, Gana Idrissa Gueye; Keita Balde, M’Baye Niang, Sadio Mane
Prediction:
While Poland has firepower with Lewandowski, the team as a whole lacks spectacular showing. On the other hand, the Senegalese players are looking to make an impact in this World Cup.
Prediction: Poland 1 – 2 Senegal
