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France vs. Senegal: World Cup Rematch Echoes 2002 Upset
14 Jun
Summary
- France, a favorite, faces Senegal in a World Cup rematch.
- Senegal famously upset France in the 2002 World Cup.
- France recently lost to Ivory Coast after a long unbeaten run.
World Cup favorites France are scheduled to play against African powerhouse Senegal in a Group I match. This fixture evokes memories of the 2002 tournament, where Senegal achieved a famous 1-0 upset victory over the then-defending champions, France, contributing to their early exit.
Didier Deschamps' French squad, featuring talents such as Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise, is considered one of the strongest in history. Despite a nine-game unbeaten run that included wins against Germany and Brazil, France suffered a 2-1 defeat to Ivory Coast on June 4, 2026. They later secured a 3-1 win over Northern Ireland, with Olise scoring a hat-trick.
Senegal, winners of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, enter the World Cup with mixed recent form. They experienced a 3-2 loss to the USA, where star striker Sadio Mane scored twice, and a goalless draw with Saudi Arabia.
