Live on ITV 1. Coverage starts at 15:00 (GMT). Kick off 16:00 (GMT). Presented by Laura Woods. Punditry from Ian Wright, Nigel De Jong and Gary Neville. Commentary from Jon Champion and Ally McCoist.
This could be an interesting game, Netherlands are in good form, trouncing Belgium in the nations league, Senegal are tipped to be the African side that goes furthest in this tournament. I expect a cagey opening match from both sides.
Senegal
This is Senegal’s 3rd appearance at a World Cup and it’s the first time they’ve reach consecutive World Cup’s. Their best performance is still their quarter final exit in 2002. In that World Cup they were captained by Aliou Cissé, he’s been in charge since 2015, so he’s been involved in all of Senegal’s World Cup appearances and is arguably their most successful manager after winning the AFCON last year. Sadio Mane has been ruled out of the tournament with injury, that's a major blow to how far they can go in this tournament.
They have a strong squad with many familiar faces from the Premier League and across Europe:
Their only 2 losses this year are in a tournament that didn’t matter and a World Cup qualifier v Egypt which they managed to turn around in the 2nd leg:
Netherlands
Louis van Gaal is back for his 3rd stint as Netherlands manager and his 2nd World Cup, he led them to 3rd place in 2014. They will be favourites to progress in this group given the stars that line their squad including our very own Nathan Ake, who may start, having started recently in their wins over Poland and Belgium.
Former City youth team player Jeremie Frimpong has been called up to the squad, he could get his first cap at this World Cup. Keep an eye on Cody Gakpo who is having a very good season with PSV. I also like one of the other uncapped players in the squad, Xavi Simons, he’s got a bright future.
They qualified with 23 points from 30, only losing their opening WCQ game to Turkey but that was back when Franck De Boer was in charge. They’ve been in very good form since van Gaal came in and they could go far into this tournament:
This could be an interesting game, Netherlands are in good form, trouncing Belgium in the nations league, Senegal are tipped to be the African side that goes furthest in this tournament. I expect a cagey opening match from both sides.
Senegal
This is Senegal’s 3rd appearance at a World Cup and it’s the first time they’ve reach consecutive World Cup’s. Their best performance is still their quarter final exit in 2002. In that World Cup they were captained by Aliou Cissé, he’s been in charge since 2015, so he’s been involved in all of Senegal’s World Cup appearances and is arguably their most successful manager after winning the AFCON last year. Sadio Mane has been ruled out of the tournament with injury, that's a major blow to how far they can go in this tournament.
They have a strong squad with many familiar faces from the Premier League and across Europe:
Their only 2 losses this year are in a tournament that didn’t matter and a World Cup qualifier v Egypt which they managed to turn around in the 2nd leg:
Netherlands
Louis van Gaal is back for his 3rd stint as Netherlands manager and his 2nd World Cup, he led them to 3rd place in 2014. They will be favourites to progress in this group given the stars that line their squad including our very own Nathan Ake, who may start, having started recently in their wins over Poland and Belgium.
Former City youth team player Jeremie Frimpong has been called up to the squad, he could get his first cap at this World Cup. Keep an eye on Cody Gakpo who is having a very good season with PSV. I also like one of the other uncapped players in the squad, Xavi Simons, he’s got a bright future.
They qualified with 23 points from 30, only losing their opening WCQ game to Turkey but that was back when Franck De Boer was in charge. They’ve been in very good form since van Gaal came in and they could go far into this tournament: