Didier Deschamps addressed the shadow of France's shock 1-0 defeat to Senegal at the 2002 World Cup opening match, which eliminated the reigning champions. 'That is part of history, but most of my current players were not born in 2002. There is no talk of revenge—24 years have passed. Now we open a new chapter. This time we will give our best to achieve the result we want,' Deschamps told media on 16 June.
France face Senegal today (16 June) at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, USA, with kickoff at 22:00 Moscow Time. Deschamps' squad then meets Iraq on 23 June and Norway on 26 June in Group I's remaining rounds.
Deschamps' emphasis on moving forward rather than vindication signals a tactical reset for Les Bleus, who are heavy favorites. His candid remarks reflect focus on present performance rather than historical narratives.
France are strong Group I favorites; however, Senegal have demonstrated an ability to frustrate attacking teams. Points dropped to Senegal could shift Group I qualification odds materially.
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