Terry Maddaford: Senegal injects life into World Cup

nzherald.co.nz exclusive

"The Lions of Teranga" or, to most people, the football team from Senegal, continued their heart-stopping show at the 2002 World Cup with Henri Camara's golden goal winner over Sweden.

But that victory (Sweden's first loss in 17 matches), like the first-up stunner over defending champions France and the equally impressive draws with Denmark and Uruguay, have been quickly forgotten as coach Bruno Metsu and his team look forward to Saturday's quarter-final against either Japan or Turkey -- who meet in Miyagi tomorrow.

The break gives Metsu time to plan as he and his players look forward to becoming the most successful African team in World Cup history.

Cameroon, the only other African team to go beyond the group phase, reached the quarter-finals in 1990. Senegal have the chance to go at least one better.

The long-haired Metsu who shuns the collar-and-tie look on the bench, has worked wonders since taking over from German Peter Schnittger as coach last October. The 47-year-old Frenchman has put out a team who have played some extraordinary football and thrilled the crowds with their free-flowing style and never-give-in approach.

After playing at Nice, Anderlecht and Valenciennes, Metsu turned to coaching with spells at hardly glamorous Beauvais, Lille and Sedan before moving to Africa where he was national coach in Guinea before his career-boosting switch to Senegal -- a country of 8.8 million but only 193,000 footballers of which just 50 are regarded as professionals.

Now, just two wins away from an improbable place in the 2002 World Cup final, Senegal have injected real life into a World Cup which continues to show that the gap between the so-called big names and the rest is closing.

Tonight's games promise more of the same with Concacaf rivals Mexico and the United States squaring off in the Korean city of Jeonju.

Mexico go into the game as warm favourites with their Fifa ranking of seven compared to their rivals' 13. History too is against the US who are playing in their seventh World Cup but have only once made the semifinals -- in the inaugural Cup in 1930.

Mexico have been to the finals 13 times but have, surprisingly, yet to reach the semifinals. They were quarter-finalists in 1970 and 1986.

In 47 matches between the neighbouring countries, the US have won only nine times. Nine matches have been drawn.

The clash between star Mexican striker Cuauhtemol Blanco and rugged US defender Frankie Hejduk -- one of four Americans to have played every minute of their three group games -- promises to be a highlight as they chase a quarter-final against Germany in Ulsan on Friday.

In tonight's other game, favourites Brazil meet Belgium in Kobe.

While the Brazilians have swept all before them, winning three for three and scoring 11 goals, the Belgians got through with one win and two draws and just six goals.

If there is any concern for Brazil's coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, it will be in defence especially after minnows Costa Rica managed to score twice in going down 5-2 in their third round clash.

The winner of tonight's late game will play England on Friday in Shizuoka in the first of the quarter-finals.

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