Will Senegal be able to hold on without Mané?
When Senegal and Holland clash in Group A on Monday night, they will be up against two teams that have mostly shone in opening matches. While the eleven are unbeaten in eight opening games (six wins, two draws), the Senegalese have won both of their first group games. In 2002, they even beat the reigning champions France 1-0.
The match between the two teams, who in the group with Qatar and Ecuador are the declared favourites for a place in the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup, is likely to be a hot one. The Dutch, who have won eleven of their last 14 World Cup matches (two draws, one defeat), are the odds-on favourites for Senegal against Holland, according to the bookmakers’ quotes.
The absence of Senegal’s superstar Sadio Mané is certainly an advantage for the Elftal. The Bayern player has been directly involved in twelve of Senegal’s last 25 international goals at major international tournaments (nine goals, three assists). The fact that he is out injured will of course influence the prognosis for Senegal against Holland. Nevertheless, it should also mean that the rest of the squad will be even closer together.
In the Senegalese tradition of going above and beyond in opening matches, we expect a correspondingly hot fight, in which on the one hand the draw cannot be ruled out, while on the other hand goals are to be expected on both sides.
Senegal – Statistics & current form
The Senegalese national football team successfully qualified for a World Cup for the third time in history. After making it to the quarter-finals on debut in 2002, the Lions of Teranga failed to finish third in their group in Russia in 2018.
On both occasions, however, Senegal won their opening match against a European nation. In 2002, the West Africans beat defending champions France 1-0, with that match being the only one of the Teranga Lions’ eight World Cup games in which they went without conceding a goal. In 2018, they defeated Poland 2-1.
Never lost a World Cup group game against a team from Europe.
Almost always involved was coach Aliou Cissé, who played in four of the five games as a player in 2002 and coached Senegal’s three group games in 2018. Under the 46-year-old, Senegal also won the African Championship for the first time ever this summer in Cameroon.
The Lions of Teranga will go into the big tournament in Qatar with a corresponding tailwind, where they also hope to continue their run against European teams. From three group games against UEFA nations, the West Africans have yet to lose a single match (two wins, one draw).
How serious is Mané’s absence?
Despite this, the bookmakers’ odds on Senegal against Holland are clearly in favour of the Elftal. If the bookmakers have their way, the Teranga Lions will start the opening game as heavy underdogs, which is primarily due to the absence of Sadio Mané.
The Bayern player has been directly involved in twelve of Senegal’s last 25 goals at major tournaments (nine goals, three assists). Accordingly, it will be important for the West Africans to put in a cohesive team performance on the pitch. However, with numerous top international stars in the squad, who are under contract in the biggest leagues in the world, Senegal are also very dangerous without their top scorer…
Predicted line-up of Senegal:
E. Mendy – Ballo-Touré – Diallo – Koulibaly – Sabaly – Gueye – N. Mendy – Kouyaté – Dieng – Diédhiou – I. Sarr
Last matches played by Senegal:
Friendly matches
27/09/2022 – Senegal 1 – 1 Iran
24/09/2022 – Bolivia 0 – 2 Senegal
African Nations Championship Qualification
02/09/2022 – Guinea (3)1 – 0(5) Senegal
27/08/2022 – Senegal 1 – 0 Guinea
30/07/2022 – Senegal 1 – 2 Liberia
Holland – Statistics & current form
The Netherlands national football team is making its eleventh appearance at a World Cup after Oranje missed out on making it to the finals in Russia four years ago. The eleven have reached the World Cup finals three times so far, but lost in all three – most recently in South Africa in 2010.
Now, in his third attempt as Bonds coach, Louis van Gaal is expected to lead the Dutch, who disappointingly failed to reach the last 16 at EURO 2021, back to the elite. In his only World Cup as coach to date, the Netherlands finished third in 2014.
Unbeaten in 15 international matches since Euro 2021
At the same time, the current number eight in the FIFA world rankings will go into the big tournament in Qatar with a considerable tailwind. Holland have not lost a single international match since the European Championship. The eleven-man team is now 15 games in a row without defeat (eleven wins, four draws).
Among other things, Oranje secured a superior overall victory in UEFA Nations League Group A4 with 16 out of a possible 18 points, ahead of neighbours Belgium, and can dream of at least a minor Nations League title at the Final Four on home soil next summer.
Haven’t lost a World Cup group match since 1994
But before that, the aim is to reach for the stars at the 2022 World Cup. After all, the Oranje have lost only one of their last 14 World Cup matches (eleven wins, two draws). Moreover, the Dutch team has not lost a World Cup group match since 1994, which is why it is very likely that Senegal will pick up at least a point against Holland.
After all, the eleven have remained unbeaten in eight World Cup openers (six wins, two draws), but they also have to compensate for an important absence in the form of injured vice-captain Georginio Wijnaldum.
Predicted line-up of Holland:
Bijlow – Blind – Aké – van Dijk – de Ligt – Dumfries – Berghuis – de Jong – Klaassen – Bergwijn – Depay
Last matches played by Holland:
UEFA Nations League A Grp. 4
26/09/2022 – Netherlands 1 – 0 Belgium
23/09/2022 – Poland 0 – 2 Netherlands
15/06/2022 – Netherlands 3 – 2 Wales
12/06/2022 – Netherlands 2 – 2 Poland
09/06/2022 – Wales 1 – 2 Netherlands
Senegal – Holland Direct comparison / H2H balance
Never before has there been an international match between the two nations. Consequently, there is no “head to head” data available that could be used in the prediction for Senegal vs. Holland
Senegal – Holland Tip
Generally, we agree with the bookmakers’ assessment that the Eleven will start the opening match as favourites. However, Senegal should not be underestimated. The Lions of Teranga have won both of their World Cup openers so far and, with Sadio Mané out of action, are likely to display a now-first-right attitude all the more. The reigning African champions are also goal-scorers. None of Senegal’s eight World Cup matches have ended goalless.
Betting on both teams to score in the first group match offers a lot of value.
