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Allez Senegal African newcomer stuns world champion FrancePosted: Friday May 31, 2002 7:00 AMUpdated: Friday May 31, 2002 2:39 PM
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- Senegal beat up on its former colonial ruler as Africans again upstaged a world champion in the opening match of a World Cup. Papa Bouba Diop slotted a 30th-minute winner as the rookie Senegalese edged defending world and European champion France 1-0 in a classic curtain raiser to the first World Cup in Asia. The French lineup, bidding to become the first team in 40 years to win back-to-back titles, missed injured playmaker Zinedine Zidane and didn't have the vigor or the valor to match a Senegal squad making its debut in soccer's showcase event. Diop's shirt-stripping goal celebration will remain a magic moment in Senegal sporting folklore.
Not since Cameroon beat Diego Maradona and his world champion Argentine lineup in Milan to open in 1990 has the World Cup witnessed a more unexpected result. (Full story on World Cup upsets.) "It's an historic victory and a superb exploit," said Senegal coach Bruno Metsu. "It's like a dream, but it isn't a miracle because the team worked very hard for it." Metsu, a French journeyman, took over as coach of the west African nation early last year and became a hero by leading Senegal to the World Cup finals in his first year. He also guided Senegal to its first final in the African Cup of Nations in Mali earlier this year, where it lost on penalties to Cameroon. The Africans couldn't organize a tuneup against a European nation before heading for Korea and most interest on Senegal in the week leading into France match revolved around midfielder Khalilou Fadiga, who was accused a stealing a necklace from a store near the team's training camp. Fadiga, who continued with the squad and has shrugged off his brush with the law, said some rivals teams didn't think them worthy of a warmup. "Some teams didn't respect us. I'm not talking about France, but some big teams thought that we were minor players and didn't want to play us," he said. "We proved that we were good. Let's hope that France and Senegal get through to the second round." Metsu had predicted it wouldn't take a miracle to beat France and people back in Dakar believed him. Thousands pressed up to the gates of the Palace of the Republic in downtown Dakar to congratulate the president, Abdoulaye Wade, who decreed the day a national holiday so that all could celebrate. In some senses, the Senegal squad feels more French than the French lineup. The entire Senegal starting 11 and all but two members of the 23-man squad play league soccer in France. Only five members of Le Bleus starting side is signed to a French club.
In a radio interview, Wade compared the match to "a family affair." The Senegal players "learned their trade, their technique, the science of football in France," Wade said. "They have come to Senegal's side, a little like an apprentice who learned his lesson well and now faces his master." France coach Roger Lemerre knew that Senegal could capitalize on its knowledge of the French style. "I knew that Metsu had cooked up some plan. France dominated possession, but not enough to win," Lemerre said. "These things happen. It's true that we would have liked a happier start. But we take comfort from the fact that nothing's finished." Zidane's absence left a creative void and France's attack was too disjointed. Its defense was vulnerable as well. Diop's goal came on a play set up by teammate El Hadji Diouf, who beat French defender Frank Leboeuf racing down the left side. Diouf centered the ball and French defender Emmanuel Petit deflected the pass into French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez, who couldn't grasp a save and allowed Diop to swipe a sliding, half-sitting left-footed shot. Diop danced, sprinted or the right corner flag, dropped his shirt on the ground and danced some more. His teammates joined him and so did fans. "I've always dreamed of this," said Diop, whose goal sparked dancing in the streets of Dakar. Celebrating schoolkids flooded the streets in the Senegal capital to savor the moment. Arch-rivals even came together, for 90 minutes at least. In Abu Gosh, Israel, Arabs and Jews gathered in a restaurant to watch the match on a big screen TV and there was no talk of politics or battles beyond the soccer field.
The French had their chances -- strikers David Trezeguet and Thierry Henry both found the frame with shots on goal. Youri Djorkaeff, the 34-year-old veteran called up for Zidane in midfield, also had two near misses. But Senegal goalkeeper Tony Sylva, rated the best 'keeper on the African continent, held firm. At least one Senegal-born player wasn't rejoicing. French midfielder Patrick Vieira, who moved from Senegal to France as a child, said the loss was a "big slap in the face." "We had lots of opportunities but we couldn't play our game," he said. "Senegal was very well organized and took no risks." France didn't have Zidane's direction and went into the match on a loss to Belgium two weeks ago and a hard-fought 3-2 win over South Korea in tuneups, but should have had enough resources to win. Zidane, who scored twice in France's 3-0 win over Brazil in the 1998 World Cup final, has a thigh injury that could keep him out of the next matches against Uruguay and Denmark in Group A. The sellout opener at Seoul's 64,640 seat World Cup Stadium marked the first of 64 matches across Korea and Japan, with each co-hosting staging 32. Security was tight inside the stadium and outside, where shield-wielding riot police congregated to ensure there was no trouble. Forecast showers night held off Friday, although Korean Meteorological Administration forecasters are expecting rain.
Summary:France 0 Senegal 1 - result World Cup, group A (opening match). Scorer: Pape Bouba Diop 30 Halftime: 0-1; Attendance: 62,561 Teams: France: (4-3-3) 16-Fabien Barthez; 15-Lilian Thuram, 8-Marcel Desailly, 18-Frank Leboeuf, 3-Bixente Lizarazu; 4-Patrick Vieira, 17-Emmanuel Petit, 6-Youri Djorkaeff (21-Christophe Dugarry 60); 11-Sylvain Wiltord (9-Djibril Cisse 81), 20-David Trezeguet, 12-Thierry Henry Senegal: (5-4-1) 1-Tony Sylva; 2-Omar Daf, 13-Lamine Diatta, 6-Aliou Cisse, 17-Ferdinand Coly, 4-Pape Malick Diop; 10-Khalilou Fadiga, 15-Salif Diao, 19-Pape Bouba Diop, 14-Moussa Ndiaye; 11-El Hadji Diouf. Referee: Ali Mohamed Bujsaim (United Arab Emirates) Linesmen: Ali Al Traifi (Saudi Arabia) Jorge Rattalino (Argentina)
Reuters contributed to this report. |
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