France should handle Senegal comfortably when these sides meet in the World Cup opener at MetLife Stadium. Their form over the last few months backs that up. Four wins from the last five matches tell the story, even if the 1-2 loss to Ivory Coast in early June showed they aren't completely unbeatable in friendlies.
Senegal arrive with mixed results of their own. A goalless draw against Saudi Arabia sits alongside a 2-3 defeat to the USA, while earlier results against Gambia and Peru look more promising. Still, stepping up against a side that reached the final in 2022 brings different pressure.
The head-to-head history is ancient and irrelevant now. That 2002 upset belongs to another era. Both teams sit on zero points ahead of this Group I clash, so the winner grabs an early advantage in the standings.
Predicted lineups point to France lining up in a 4-2-3-1 with Maignan in goal, Koundé, Saliba and Upamecano across the back, and Mbappé leading the attack. Senegal are expected to feature Mendy, Diatta, Koulibaly and Niakhaté in a more compact shape. No confirmed injuries or suspensions have been flagged for either squad ahead of kickoff.
Mbappé remains the standout name for France, closing in on another scoring milestone. On the other side, Senegal rely on the threat from Mané, Jackson and Sarr to create problems. France's attacking options look deeper on paper, and that should show once the game settles.
Expect France to control possession and find openings through the wide areas. Senegal will look compact and hit on the break, but their recent friendly results suggest they struggle to keep clean sheets against quality opposition.
Recommended Bets
France -1.5 Asian Handicap @2.10 — France have won four of their last five and boast far more attacking quality than Senegal showed in recent friendlies.
Over 2.5 Goals @1.85 — France average over two goals per game in their recent wins while Senegal have been involved in several high-scoring matches lately.
Kylian Mbappé Anytime Goalscorer @1.70 — The France captain starts as the focal point up top and has been in sharp form heading into the tournament.
Odds tend to shorten closer to kickoff — lock in value now.
