France and Senegal open Group I in East Rutherford on Tuesday in a meeting shaped as much by history as by present-day ambition, bringing together a reigning powerhouse still chasing total dominance and an African giant intent on proving its place among the elite once again.
The fixture carries a deep historical charge that still lingers in World Cup memory.
Senegal’s 1-0 win over France in the 2002 opener remains one of the tournament’s defining shocks, a result that derailed the defending champions and announced the arrival of the Lions of Teranga on football’s biggest stage.
More than two decades later, the roles are different but the psychological undertow remains.
France arrive as one of the tournament favorites again, while Senegal step in as a respected contender with enough pedigree and resilience to trouble anyone on a given night.
