WORLD NEWS

World Cup Round-Up: Opening day Shockers!, France upended 1-0 by Senegal; Diop sitter sends Senegalese in hysteria, Champions shocked at the bottom of the Group A table and more…
May 31, 2002 - STM Staff

France 0-1 Senegal (Group A)
Scoring Summary: Bouda Diop, 1, (30th minute)
Seoul, South Korea, Attendance: 64,640

Les Blues in cardiac arrest after dropping opening match to Senegal, a former French colony in Africa. Well, they are no longer the younger brother after Bouda Diop and crew stole a 1-0 win over the defending World Cup champions in the opening match of the 2002 World Cup in Korea/ Japan.

Uninspired defense, comical mistakes, and woodwork were the undoing of France. Juventus forward David Trezeguet and Arsenal forward Henry each tasted the woodwork in the first and second halves respectively.

The game winner came late in the first half, after Diouf exposed central back Frank Lebouff on the left side. The pacy forward drove toward the byline and sent the ball across the six-yard box where French defender Emmanuel Petit (Chelsea) and goalkeeper Fabian Barthez (Manchester United) proceeded to engage in a comical farce of defending. Each misplayed the ball in step, and it fell to waiting Senegalese forward Diop, who tuck it home while sitting on his backside from one yard out.

The defending champions are now bottom of the group in group A after Denmark beat Uruguay 2-1 in a wonderfully played match on Friday.

The French seriously missed the influence of team captain Zidane (Real Madrid) who is out with a knee injury until the knockout phase. He defending champs will have run out winners in their next two matches to advance to the Round of 16, and have a real chance of not going through. Shocker indeed!

Match Stats
Shots on Goal Fr 9 Sen 6
Offsides: FR 2, Sen 12
Fouls FR 18, Sen 22

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