Senegal vs. Netherlands - World Cup 2022 - LIVE
Who should you avoid in Senegal?
Sadio Mane, the two-time African footballer of the year for Bayern Munich, would have undoubtedly been the Teranga Lions' biggest star.
However, this year's runner-up in the Ballon d'Or was ruled out of the tournament after suffering a leg injury while playing for the German champions.
Keep an eye on Edouard Mendy, the first African goalkeeper in football history to win both the UEFA and FIFA goalkeeper of the year awards (in 2021). Back home, however, there is concern that Mendy requires rest after nearly 36 months of nonstop football.
It's also worth keeping an eye on players like Idrissa Gueye, Cheikhou Kouyaté, Ismaila Sarr, Abdou Diallo, and Boulaye Dia, who have made a name for themselves in Europe.
Can the Netherlands outperform their modest expectations in the tournament?
As the Netherlands prepares for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, fans' expectations are lower than in previous tournaments.
The current Oranje squad is not as star-studded as previous generations, and they exited the European Championships last year in the round of 16 with a 0-2 loss to the Czech Republic.
Since then, the Netherlands has posted a string of impressive results, including two wins over Belgium in the Nations League to finish first in their group.
A favorable draw in the World Cup group stages with Qatar, Senegal, and Ecuador has boosted spirits even more.
