Senegal vs Netherlands: World Cup 2022, Group Stage Match Preview and Dream11 Prediction

Senegal vs Netherlands will be an interesting watch as the reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions Senegal face an in-form Netherlands side.

Match Details:

• Location: Doha, Qatar
• Stadium: Al Thumama Stadium
• Date: Monday 21 November
• Kick-off Time: 9:30 PM IST
• Watch: Sports 18/HD And Jio Cinema App

Senegal vs Netherlands: Match Preview:

Aliou Cisse vowed Senegal "will leave our mark" at the World Cup as they look to extend their perfect opening-game record at the tournament when they face the Netherlands. The reigning African champions have won their previous two openers – a shock 1-0 win over then-world champions France in 2002 and a 2-1 victory against Poland in 2018. Senegal reached the quarter-finals 20 years ago, but they were eliminated in the group stage in the most recent edition, and Cisse is hoping for a different outcome this time.

"The aim is to get out of this group," he told reporters. "We will leave our mark. People are already looking ahead to the last 16, the quarter-finals, but we will be taking it a game at a time. "We're not getting carried away. It's up to us to fully prepare ourselves and to do so wisely. We were knocked out of the last World Cup after just three games."

Senegal defeated Egypt in February to win their first Africa Cup of Nations title, before beating the same side the following month in a World Cup qualifying play-off to reach Qatar 2022.

Cisse's side are ranked 18th in the world – 10 places behind the Netherlands – and are without star man Sadio Mane in these finals due to injury. Senegal may have a perfect opening-game record, but the Netherlands are unbeaten in their past eight curtain-raising matches, winning six of those.

The Dutch are back on the world stage after failing to qualify for Russia 2018, with veteran boss Louis van Gaal now in his third spell in charge. Van Gaal, who will step aside at the end of the tournament, admits his side will need more than just talent to go all the way in Qatar and lift the trophy for the first time.

"I don't believe we have the best players on earth in our team," he said. "But I believe in team building and in tactics. I believe we can go far. "But we also need luck – that is also important. Because of that and because I believe in imagination, we could be the world champion at the end of the tournament."

Monday's Group A contest at Al Thumama Stadium will mark the first time Senegal and three-time World Cup runners-up Netherlands have met. The Netherlands are unbeaten in four matches against African opposition in the finals, while Senegal have won two and drawn one against European sides in the group stage.

Team News:

Senegal:

Cisse pledged: "We will do all in our power to ensure we can recover Mane in time to play." However, the efforts to treat the damage Mane sustained to his fibula on November 8 - including the use of a witch doctor - couldn't get the job done and he has now been officially ruled out of the tournament.

Five days before kick-off, the Senegalese Football Federation board member Abdoulaye Sow confirmed that the Lions of Teranga "will have to cope without its best player".

Abdou Diallo is also a doubt with a knee problem.

Netherlands:

Memphis Depay is comfortably the top-scoring international in the Netherlands' squad but has been struggling with a hamstring issue since appearing for the Oranje in September. Van Gaal confirmed the forward would not start their World Cup opener as he continues his recovery.

Denzel Dumfries was forced off with a knee injury while turning out for Inter against Atalanta just eight days ahead of the game against Senegal. Marten de Roon wasn't part of the opposition that day as he is suffering from a muscular problem.

Senegal vs Netherlands: Head to Head:

The Netherlands have never played an official game against Senegal in their history and will need to adapt to a new opponent this week.

Senegal are yet to lose against a European opponent in the group stages of the FIFA World Cup and have won two of their three such matches so far.

The Netherlands are unbeaten in their last eight opening games in the FIFA World Cup and have won six of these matches.

Predicted Line-ups:

Senegal Starting 11 (4-3-3): E Mendy; Sabaly, Cisse, Koulibaly, Ballo-Toure; PM Sarr, N Mendy, I Gueye; I Sarr, Dia, Diatta.
Bench: S Dieng, Gomis, Jakobs, Diallo, Kouyate, F Mendy, Name, P Gueye, Ciss, Loum, Ndiaye, Diedhiou, B Dieng, Jackson.

Netherlands Starting 11 (3-4-1-2): Pasveer; Timber, Van Dijk, Ake; Frimpong, F De Jong, Koopmeiners, Blind; Gakpo; Bergwijn, Janssen.
Bench: Bijlow, Noppert, De Ligt, De Vrij, Malacia, Berghuis, Klaasen, Taylor, Simons, L De Jong, Lang, Weghorst.

SEN vs NED: Dream11 Predictions: