World Cup 2026: Mbappé brace ignites France's title bid after sleepy start against Senegal

FootballSports
17 Jun 2026 • 6:12 AM MYT
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Image from: World Cup 2026: Mbappé brace ignites France's title bid after sleepy start against Senegal
©Dylan Martinez, Reuters

The starting XIs

France: Mike Maignan - Jules Koundé, Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba, Théo Hernandez - Aurélien Tchouameni, Adrien Rabiot - Michael Olise, Kylian Mbappé (captain), Désiré Doué, Ousmane Dembélé.

Senegal: Edouard Mendy - Krepin Diatta, Kalidou Koulibaly (captain), Moussa Niakhate, El Hadji Malick Diouf - Idrissa Gana ⁠Gueye, Lamine Camara, Pape Gueye - Ismaila ⁠Sarr, Sadio Mane, Nicolas Jackson.

France come into this year's World Cup as one of the leading contenders for the trophy having reached the final in the last two editions. But their opponents Senegal served as a warning of the dangers of over-confidence, having famously stunned Les Bleus at this stage in 2002.