Soccer: Senegal in upset 1-0 win over France

SEOUL - A 30th-minute goal by midfielder Pape Bouba Diop has helped Senegal make a sensational start to the World Cup as they beat defending champions France 1-0 in the opening game of the tournament.

It was the first defeat suffered by defending champions in the opening World Cup match since Cameroon upset Argentina 1-0 at the 1990 tournament in Italy. The African side went on to reach the quarter-finals, while Argentina recovered to finish runners-up.

The athletic Senegalese, whose odds to win the tournament were around 300-1, frustrated a French side containing eight of the team which beat Brazil in the 1998 World Cup final, by giving the world champions little space in midfield. The French missed the inspiration of injured playmaker Zinedine Zidane.

Diop took his goal well after a superb run and cross from the left flank by forward El Hadji Diouf. French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez failed to grasp the ball after it rebounded off Emmanuel Petit and Diop poked in the rebound from close range.

France's only real chance of the first half came in the 23rd minute when striker David Trezeguet hit the post. The French created a handful of chances in the second half and forward Thierry Henry hit the bar with a shot in the 66th minute just a few minutes later Patrick Vieira went close with a header.

But Senegal were worth their victory.

Khalilou Fadiga, placed under investigation by South Korean police on suspicion of stealing jewellery just days before the game, cast aside the controversy with an excellent performance in midfield.

He went desperately close to scoring Senegal's second when he hit the bar after a weaving run down the left in the 65th minute, but France also created chances to equalise in the dying minutes.

It was France's first defeat at the finals since 1986 when they lost in the semis 2-0 to the former West Germany, although they failed to qualify for the tournaments in 1990 and 1994.

The tiny West African nation of Senegal, whose team all play their club football in France and are coached by Frenchman Bruno Metsu, proved they are capable of getting past the first round at least.

- REUTERS

nzherald.co.nz/fifaworldcup

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