Doha: The second match of Group A at the Al Tummana Stadium today is going to be a real thriller. Europe’s dominant power, Holland, and African Cup of Nations winner Senegal are facing each other.
This is the first time that Holland and Senegal are facing each other. The Dutch are playing with a record of not losing to the Africans in the World Cup. They have won three of their four matches so far. Senegal also has a good record once morest European teams in the World Cup. The Europeans never beat them in the group stage. Their record is two wins and one draw. The Dutch are unbeaten in their last eight matches at the World Cup (six wins and two draws).
Senegal has a history of upsetting defending champions France (1-0) in the 2002 World Cup and Poland (2-1) in 2018. Holland’s best performance was reaching the 2010 World Cup final. They lost on a goal conceded in extra time once morest Spain. The Dutch won 11 of the 14 matches played following that. Their last loss in the group stage was once morest Belgium (1-0 at the 1994 World Cup).
Sadio Mane has been involved in 12 of Senegal’s 25 goals so far. Holland coach Louis van Gaal and captain Virgil van Dijk are hoping that Mane, who is not fully recovered from the injury, will not play today. Senegal coach Aliou Cisse is not yet open to playing Mane.
Cisse has appeared in World Cups for Senegal as both a player and a coach (four as a player and three as a coach). Louis van Gaal is reaching the World Cup for the third time as Holland coach.
The plus point for the Dutch is the good form of striker Mefims Depa. Depay scored 12 goals and provided six assists in ten matches in the qualifying round.
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