Five Things We Learned From France 3-1 Senegal

Five Things We Learned From France 3-1 Senegal

France were victorious over Senegal in the opening match of Group I, defeating the African side 2-0 at the New Jersey Stadium in New York.

Ultimately, the depth and quality of the Didier Deschamp's side was too much for the Lions of Teranga to handle. Missed chances early on from Senegal proved costly, and Senegal will be angry they let their good start slip.

Here are five things we learned from today's game.

1. Mbappé is Inevitable

Kylian Mbappé has previously won the tournament with France as a 19-year old. Last time round, he scored a hat-trick in the final as France lost to Argentina.

He is now currently 3 goals away from breaking Miroslav Klose's record as the World Cup's top scorer. Despite his opener taking an hour to arrive, his relentlessness to find the decisive moment for France is still ever-present. The Real Madrid man's brace today made him the top scorer of all time for France.

HISTORY MAKER! 🇫🇷👏

Kylian Mbappe becomes France's all-time leading goalscorer with 58 goals aged just 27.

His two goals help Les Bleus to a win in their World Cup opener over Senegal. pic.twitter.com/lHYDWuqhs9

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 16, 2026

Senegal did fantastically well to keep the 27-year old out of the game for as long as they did, but Mbappé in the World Cup for France is a different monster.

Now, with Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembélé alongside him, France look deadlier than ever.

2. Pape Thiaw is One to Watch

The Senegal manager has enjoyed an impressive rise since taking charge of the Lions of Teranga in 2024. Born in Dakar, Pape Thiaw earned 16 caps for Senegal during his playing career before transitioning into management.

Now at the helm, he guided Senegal to AFCON glory earlier this year, although the triumph was not without controversy. A series of contentious refereeing decisions and heated debate surrounding the latter stages of the tournament led some rival supporters to question the legitimacy of the title, but Thiaw and his squad remained focused and ultimately lifted the trophy.

🚨🇸🇳🗣️ SENEGAL COACH PRAISES USA AMID WORLD CUP CRITICISM

While many discussions around the tournament have focused on social media narratives, Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw had a very different message.

🗣️ Pape Thiaw:

💬 “Everything has gone well since we arrived in the… pic.twitter.com/VwXfoWjCpP

— Pitch Wire (@wire_pitch) June 16, 2026

Entrusted with leading a talented generation that has now delivered two AFCON titles, Thiaw has embraced the responsibility with confidence. His animated presence on the touchline and unwavering belief in his players have made Senegal one of the tournament's most compelling sides. Earlier this week, when asked whether his team could win the World Cup, the 45-year-old replied that if he did not believe they could, he would have no business being in the job.

Still relatively young by international coaching standards, Thiaw has already built an impressive CV. If Senegal can make a deep run in this tournament, the football world may well be witnessing the emergence of one of the game's next elite managers.

3. The Officiating Was Controversial

Throughout the game, there were countless moments in which the referee appeared to make the wrong decision.

The biggest talking point of the match was the unawarded penalty for France. While many may feel this was an outrageous decision, it can be argued that it was a fantastic intervention of VAR.

Should France have been awarded a penalty for this? 🤔

VAR sent the referee to the monitor but he stuck with his on-field decision. pic.twitter.com/dT9JZhLy65

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) June 16, 2026

So far at this World Cup, only two penalties have been awarded, suggesting that referees are allowing the game to flow rather than intervening at every opportunity. With hydration breaks already causing unavoidable interruptions, a more lenient approach could be exactly what the tournament needs. By keeping the whistle out of the spotlight and letting physical contests play out naturally, officials are allowing football to be football – something many fans will welcome.

4. Nicolas Jackson Has Matured

Nicolas Jackson looked a shadow of his former self today for Senegal. Despite receiving a red card in a warm-up game before the World Cup, Jackson showed nothing but professionalism and put in a performance to be proud of for Senegal today.

Jackson was sent out on loan by Chelsea last summer to Bayern Munich where he played second fiddle to Harry Kane for the 2025/26 season. Yet there is no shame to being Harry Kane's understudy, and it appears that Jackson may have developed his game whilst in Bavaria.

Nicolas Jackson was Senegal’s most threatening player against the best team in the competition. Link-up play, ball-striking, runs in behind, work-rate, offsides (sigh).

I’ll say it again: I’d welcome him back to Chelsea with open arms. pic.twitter.com/g0Mr1fTEqt

— ~ (@CFCdruw) June 16, 2026

Jackson was desperately unlucky to not find an opener for Senegal in the first half, and in the second half he found the back of the net, only to be ruled offside.

Jackson is currently due to return to Stamford Bridge after the World Cup. With Chelsea undergoing a revamp this summer under new manager Xabi Alonso, Nicolas Jackson may just become an option for Chelsea once more.

5. France's Depth is Unmatched

France's greatest weapon at the 2026 World Cup may not be their starting XI, but the extraordinary depth on the bench.

Few nations can rotate world-class talent without a noticeable drop in performance like France. Whether it is pace on the wings, creativity between the lines or stability in midfield, manager Didier Deschamps has an abundance of options capable of changing a game in an instant. Their blend of established superstars and emerging young talents gives them answers to almost any tactical challenge.

✨🇫🇷 First ever World Cup goal for Bradley Barcola… with his first touch in France-Senegal. pic.twitter.com/lpmMRnFZFN

— All 4 Mum 23🇬🇭🇬🇧 (@OrtizTituz50720) June 16, 2026

That depth makes France an intimidating prospect. Injuries, suspensions and fatigue are inevitable at a World Cup, but Deschamp's side are one of the few teams who can replace an absent star with another player of similar pedigree.

In terms of overall talent, versatility and competition for places, France's squad depth is arguably unmatched by any other nation in the competition and could prove to be the decisive factor in another deep run.