31 May 2002, 19:31 Seoul - Tokyo
FRANCE
0 : 1 SENEGAL
by
FIFAworldcup.com
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FIFA World
Cup™ debutantes Senegal kicked off the 2002 edition of the world's greatest
sporting event by shocking holders France 0 : 1 in Seoul, Korea through a
first-half goal from Papa Bouba Diop.
The French-speaking African
side came out bravely, and behind the dangerous El Hadji Diouf, proved that
they were not going to be intimidated. France increased their pressure but
their finishing failed to break down a solid Senegalese defence. Considering
that France hit the woodwork twice, Senegal coach Bruno Metsu could not be more
pleased about the end result of the long-awaited match. Never has the loss of
Zidane's magic wand been felt more cruelly by the French.
Senegal did not seem
intimidated at all by the FIFA World Cup holders in the early going, and El
Hadji Diouf created the first chance for Senegal when he beat Marcel Desailly
to the by-line and laid the ball back for Khalilou Fadiga, whose low shot
rolled right to France goalkeeper Fabien Barthez.
Shortly after France had a
half-chance, when a Barthez punt was knocked on to a streaking David Trezeguet
behind the Senegal defence. But the Juventus striker’s first touch let him
down.
Trezeguet’s touch failed him
again minutes later as he struck the right post with a powerful, curling shot
from the top of the penalty area (24’).
Senegal shocked France with
the tournament’s first goal at the half-hour mark, just when it seemed that the
French offside trap had Diouf in fits. The Senegalese striker rounded Frank
Leboeuf and laid a dangerous ball across the face of the goal. It took
deflections from Emmanuel Petit and Barthez before sitting up wonderfully for
Papa Bouba Diop, who easily knocked the ball into the open net from his
backside (0:1, 30’).
After giving up the goal,
France finished out the half by creating a flurry of dangerous situations, but
they never managed to truly test Sylva.
France opened the second
half with a string of chances. They went close when Lilian Thuram served a
cross from the right side, and Trezeguet’s glancing header couldn’t stay inside
the left post (55’).
France missed an even better
opportunity soon after. Sylvain Wiltord served a cross from the right side, and
Henry couldn’t keep his header down, sailing it over an open goal. Then it was
Youri Djorkaeff’s turn to have a go. His shot from 25 metres was stopped by
Sylva, who had to scramble to punch the rebound over the by-line for a corner.
Vieira then rose up to meet
a corner from the right side and sent a powerful header on goal, forcing Sylva
to make a nice diving save to his right (58’).
Senegal had their first good
chance of the half off the foot of Fadiga, whose rocket from 10 metres caromed
off the top of the crossbar and out for a goal kick (65’). Then Henry came
right back with a shot of his own off the woodwork, the spirited action flying
from end to end (66’).
France seemed to run out of
steam after that, demoralized and frustrated by their inability to take
advantage of so many chances, and they didn’t threaten again until stoppage
time, when Henry and Leboeuf each blasted shots from inside the area, forcing
two nice saves from Sylva.
