Friendly: Senegal stall against Saudi Arabia as doubts linger before France
Senegal are not exactly filling anyone with confidence. On Tuesday night in San Antonio, the Lions of Teranga were held to another draw by Saudi Arabia (0-0), continuing a prep campaign that has been pretty uninspiring on the results front. After the defeat to the United States on 31 May (3-2), it was a second failed test for Pape Thiaw’s side, who face France on 16 June in East Rutherford in Group I. The display was flat, the lack of cutting edge up front was obvious, and it was mostly Edouard Mendy who kept the damage to a minimum in the Senegal goal.
The other big talking point from the night was Nicolas Jackson. Sent on after the hour mark, the Chelsea striker picked up two yellow cards in two minutes, in the 82nd and then the 84th minute, and was sent off. A needless early exit, and another frustration for a Senegal side that badly needed a strong performance to head into the World Cup with some belief. Jackson will not miss the match against Les Bleus, though, as the dismissal came in a friendly and carries no suspension into official competition.
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Les Bleus watch on as Senegal need a rapid rise in level
Didier Deschamps’ players will have clocked the flaws on show from their next opponents in this warm-up. But Pape Thiaw knows better than anyone that a World Cup match against France is a very different beast from these low-stakes friendlies. Senegal have quality in the squad, with players at some of the biggest clubs in Europe, and they can still raise their level when it matters.
Still, the doubts are there. Two games without a win, a performance short on conviction, and a quiet attack against Saudi Arabia: Senegal arrive at the World Cup without the confidence you would expect from a team that shone in Qatar in 2022. The meeting on 16 June in East Rutherford will show whether this disappointing build-up was just a false alarm or the sign of a side in trouble.
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