WORLD CUP ANALYSIS
SENEGAL & ENGLAND SQUADS
SENEGAL WORLD CUP 2022-ALIOU CISSE’S SQUAD
Senegal qualified for the 2002 FIFA World Cup for the first time, and they immediately made an impact
by defeating the defending champions France to advance to the round of 16. After failing to qualify for the World Cup once more before 2018, they are now set to make their third appearance after defeating Mohamed Salah’s Egypt in the qualifiers.
Can they duplicate their 2002 feats of valor and advance to the knockout rounds once more?
Senegal was placed in Group A with the host nation Qatar, Ecuador, and Netherlands. Despite the fact that this is by no means an easy group, head coach Aliou Cisse will be hoping that the AFCON Champions will rely on experience and squad depth to make this season in the desert nation one to remember.
GOALKEEPERS
The best option for Senegal between the sticks is Edouard Mendy. After his heroics in the AFCON final and the World Cup qualifier against Egypt, he holds a special place in the hearts of Senegal supporters. Meanwhile, Alfred Gomis of Rennes is a reliable backup option who performed well against Bolivia in
September. Following his participation in Senegal’s final exhibition match prior to the World Cup against
Iran, QPR’s Seny Dieng has also reserved his tickets to board the flight to Qatar.
DEFENDERS
Cisse usually keeps with a group of reliable players and lines up his team with a four-man backline. Kalidou Koulibaly, the captain, and Papa Abou Cisse appear to be the two favorite center backs, but
Abdou Diallo of RB Leipzig is another candidate to start with Koulibaly.
Amiens’ Formose Mendy is a versatile player who can play both the right and center defense positions.
This puts Real Betis’ Youssouf Sabaly, a natural right-back, in competition and keeps him alert, especially because Bayern Munich’s Bouna Sarr is injured and unable to play. The standard left-back possibilities are Fode Ballo-Toure of Milan and Ismail Jakobs of Monaco.
MIDFIELDERS
Cisse is adaptable enough to experiment with several possibilities in midfield. There are instances when
a three-man bank, a typical four-man bank, or even five bodies are deployed in the park’s middle. Idrissa Gueye typically has the responsibility of controlling the game’s speed. Papa Gueye of Marseille and Cheikhou Kouyate of Nottingham Forest can work together as a double pivot to add steel.
Another potential choice who adds poise and stability in midfield is Pape Matar Sarr of Tottenham.
ATTACKERS
You cannot be too critical of your forward line when Sadio Mane is among your ranks. The 30-year-old is
the star of the Senegalese team and is turned to whenever they are in need of a goal or are having problems. However, playing him is a gamble.
He had a tibia injury in Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga victory over Werder Bremen, raising some questions
about his fitness, but he has been added to the 26-man roster.Watford’s Ismalia Sarr is a dynamic wide
player with the speed to rip through defenses.Meanwhile, the task of serving as the target man forward
falls to Boulaye Dia of Salernitana. Bamba Dieng and Nicolas Jackson are two additional options that
give the team depth.
STRONGEST XI
In Qatar, Cisse will probably set up his team in a 4-3-3 system. In front of a back four consisting of Sabaly, Koulibaly, Diallo, and Ballo-Toure, Chelsea goalkeeper Mendy will start in goal. Idrissa Gueye, Pape Gueye, and Pape Matar Sarr ought to start in midfield together.
If Mane is fit, he will probably play on the left side, with Ismalia Sarr on the right and Dia in the center of
the attack. SSMendy, Sabaly, Koulibaly, Diallo, Ballo-Toure, Idrissa Gueye, Pape Gueye, Matar Sarr, Mane, Dia, and Ismalia Sarr make up the Senegal XI (4-3-3) formation.
ENGLAND SQUAD
James Maddison will wear No. 25 in England’s squad numbers for the World Cup in Qatar. The fact that
the Leicester playmaker made the list suggests that he will be okay to fly to Qatar. The 2-0 victory over West Ham on Saturday saw Maddison taken off with a knee problem. However, Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers indicated after the game that Maddison’s departure was “precautionary.”
After a strong domestic campaign and three years after receiving his lone international cap against
Montenegro, Maddison was named to Gareth Southgate’s team. Conor Gallagher of Chelsea and Callum
Wilson of Newcastle will both play with the numbers 24 and 26, respectively.
The same players who wore numbers 1 through 12 at Euro 2020, where they lost to Italy in the
championship game at Wembley on penalties, have been handed those same numbers by Southgate.
Harry Kane, the captain, once more dons No. 9, while Jordan Pickford assumes No. 1.
As they did at the Euros last summer, Kalvin Phillips, Conor Coady, Mason Mount, and Phil Foden also
don numbers 14, 16, 19, and 20, respectively. Bukayo Saka of Arsenal wears No. 17, while Ben White of
the same team is assigned No. 21. Jude Bellingham will wear No. 22, the same number he sports for
Dortmund’s club team.
According to ITV, the England team will travel to Qatar this week in a jet called the “Rain Bow.” Kane is
one of the national captains who will wear a rainbow armband throughout the competition to oppose
discrimination and LGBTQ. It is thought that the FA is content for the team to fly on the jet, which was hired through the airline Virgin Atlantic.“We show our support for inclusion in many ways, including wearing the One Love armband during the tournament,” said an FA spokesperson.
By Brian Simiyu
