Senegal 1-3 Netherlands: What’s your prediction?

As the Netherlands return to the World Cup after missing out in 2018 they will be up against the champions of Africa, Senegal, who will be without the services of their talismanic skipper Sadio Mane.

Runners-up in 1974, 1978 and 2010, the Netherlands came within a penalty shootout of reaching a fourth World Cup final in 2014 when Louis van Gaal's squad defied expectations to make the semi-finals.

The Oranje are unbeaten in their last 15 matches since August 2021 when van Gaal was reappointed for his third stint as manager but they would be wary of a pacey, well-drilled Senegal side in their opening fixture. 

Senegal and Netherlands have never faced each other before.

Prediction: Senegal 1-3 Netherlands

When?

21st November, 10:00 pm

Where?

Al-Thumama Stadium, Al Thumama, Qatar.

Possible lineups

Senegal: (4-3-3) E.Mendy (GK),  Sabaly, Cisse, Koulibaly, Ballo-Toure; P.Sarr, N.Mendy, I.Gueye; I.Sarr, Dia, Diatta

Netherlands: (5-3-2) Pasveer (GK), Timber, Van Dijk, Ake, Blind, Dumfries, Berghuis, De Jong, Koopmeiners, Gakpo, Bergwijn

Following is a statbox on Senegal

FIFA Ranking: 18

Odds: 80-1

Previous tournaments:

Senegal are one of three African countries to reach a World Cup quarter-final - the best achievement by a team from the continent. They did so on their debut appearance in 2002, when they upset holders France in the opening game in Seoul. Senegal qualified again for the last World Cup in Russia and lost out on a place in the knockout stage on the number of cautions received in the first round after they were tied in the group standings with Japan on points, goal difference and goals scored.

How they qualified:

Senegal were the top-ranked team in the African qualifiers, earning a bye in the group phase which started last September. They romped through their group, winning five of their six matches against Congo, Namibia and Togo, who were the only side to take points off them in a 1-1 draw. Senegal then met Egypt in the playoffs in a repeat of their Africa Cup of Nations final success six weeks earlier and won a shootout again, after the two-legged tie in March ended 1-1 on aggregate, to book a place in Qatar.

Form guide:

Senegal coach Aliou Cisse led a chorus of critics demanding to have Cup of Nations qualifying matches, scheduled for the June and September international window, postponed to allow the Qatar-bound African teams to organise more testing World Cup warm-up games. He was partially successful, after Senegal beat Benin and Rwanda in Cup of Nations qualifiers in June, and a postponement of the campaign in September allowed Senegal to instead beat Bolivia in a friendly in France and then draw 1-1 with Iran in Austria.

Following is a statbox on Senegal

FIFA Ranking: 18

Odds: 80-1

Previous tournaments:

Senegal are one of three African countries to reach a World Cup quarter-final - the best achievement by a team from the continent. They did so on their debut appearance in 2002, when they upset holders France in the opening game in Seoul. Senegal qualified again for the last World Cup in Russia and lost out on a place in the knockout stage on the number of cautions received in the first round after they were tied in the group standings with Japan on points, goal difference and goals scored.

How they qualified:

Senegal were the top-ranked team in the African qualifiers, earning a bye in the group phase which started last September. They romped through their group, winning five of their six matches against Congo, Namibia and Togo, who were the only side to take points off them in a 1-1 draw. Senegal then met Egypt in the playoffs in a repeat of their Africa Cup of Nations final success six weeks earlier and won a shootout again, after the two-legged tie in March ended 1-1 on aggregate, to book a place in Qatar.

Form guide:

Senegal coach Aliou Cisse led a chorus of critics demanding to have Cup of Nations qualifying matches, scheduled for the June and September international window, postponed to allow the Qatar-bound African teams to organise more testing World Cup warm-up games. He was partially successful, after Senegal beat Benin and Rwanda in Cup of Nations qualifiers in June, and a postponement of the campaign in September allowed Senegal to instead beat Bolivia in a friendly in France and then draw 1-1 with Iran in Austria.