SENEGAL – HOLLAND | Monday 5pm
Senegal’s Qatari adventure began with a far from indifferent ‘blow’: the injury of their most talented and representative player, Sadio Mané. The Bayern Munich striker got injured on the final day of the Bundesliga and will have to give up what has been a dream of his since childhood, namely to lead the Senegalese national team to a world championship. At first the federation had thought of bringing him along – even resorting to the help of some self-styled shamans – but it was completely useless. Mané will not be able to take the field. It goes without saying that the reigning African champions lose a lot, not only in terms of quality, as the former Liverpool man is a fundamental presence in the dressing room.
Technical commissioner Aliou Cissé, who as a footballer was the protagonist of the legendary 2002 trip to South Korea and Japan – at that time Senegal went all the way to the quarter-finals, their best ever placing – will also try to challenge Ecuador and Qatar for second place in a group which, on paper, should be won by Holland, the big favourite for first place. Reborn under the guidance of the experienced Louis van Gaal, the Oranje stand as possible outsiders in the tournament after missing out on qualification in 2018. They are fresh from a sensational Nations League campaign – between June and September they collected five wins and one draw – which earned them a place in the Final Four, scheduled for June.
There are no big names up front, but with the former Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach, the Netherlands have regained their identity and are back to scoring goals in buckets, while also showing some flaws in the non-possession phase. Van Dijk and his teammates’ last defeat came at Euro 2020, when they were eliminated in the quarters by the Czech Republic. Senegal have also not played a match since September: their two friendlies against Bolivia and Iran ended in a win (2-0) and a draw (1-1) respectively.
Senegal-Holland: latest line-up news
van Gaal
Who will take Mané’s place in Senegal’s attack? There are four players in contention, but in the end Monaco’s Diatta should win out over Dieng, Ndiaye and Jackson. He will flank central forward Dia, whom we got to know at Salernitana, and Ismaila Sarr, a winger who plays for Watford in England. In defence, however, the presence of Diallo, the Leipzig defender, who is struggling with a knee problem, is not certain.
Van Gaal, who will almost certainly not be able to field Depay in attack, also has a few worries. The Barcelona centre forward will miss the first game, with the coach thus opting for a light attack formed by Gakpo and Bergwijn. On the right flank, meanwhile, Frimpong could deputise for Inter player Dumfries, who came off injured in the last Serie A match with the Nerazzurri. Atalanta player de Roon is also unavailable.
The prediction
Unbeaten for fifteen games in a row, the Netherlands are favourites against Senegal, orphaned by star Mané. The African selection actually have other weapons to trouble the Oranje, but it seems unlikely that they will be able to avoid defeat: on paper, the differences between the two teams appear clear-cut. Van Gaal’s men should score at least two goals in a challenge in which the Lions of the Teranga are also likely to score, despite the absence of their strongest striker.
The likely Senegal-Holland line-up
- SENEGAL (4-3-3): E. Mendy; Sabaly, Cissé, Koulibaly, Ballo-Touré; Kouyaté, N. Mendy, I. Gueye; I. Sarr, Dia, Diatta.
- HOLAND (3-4-1-2): Pasveer; Timber, van Dijk, Aké; Frimpong, F. De Jong, Koopmeiners, Blind; Klaassen; Gakpo, Bergwijn.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-2
