Senegal show the potential to have a decent run in tournament

Poland should not be written off in competitive group

Senegal celebrate a goal against Poland and acknowledge fansCredit: Getty Images

Poland 1
G Krychowiak 86
Senegal 2
T Cionek og 37, M Niang 60

Three things we learned...

1African hopes have been rekindled

After defeats for Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria and Tunisia, Senegal showed that there is an African side with the potential to have a decent run in the competition.

They did not play with a great deal of flair or invention, but they always looked a threat on the counter-attack and defended with great courage and organisation until Grzegorz Krychowiak headed a late consolation for Poland.

Senegal are worthy favourites to defeat Japan in their second match and they are capable of causing problems for some of tournament's big guns.

Aliou Cisse is the youngest manager in the tournament but on the evidence of the opening game he has built a very competitive side.

2Senegal are far from a one-man team
Sadio Mane was billed as the main man for Senegal and had a decent game but it was a team effort from the Lions of Teranga.

Towering centre-backs Salif Sane and Kalidou Koulibaly dealt extremely well with Robert Lewandowski and Arkadiusz Milik and the midfield, anchored by Idrissa Gueye, was full of energy and physicality.

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There were questions over goalkeeper Khadim N'Diaye, who plays his domestic football in Guinea, but he was assured throughout and there was no obvious weak link in the side.

Senegal were in control from the moment they took the lead.

However, there was a lack of creativity while the scores were level and that could become an issue if they were to fall behind.

3Plenty left for Poles to play for
Poland were a massive disappointment but they should not be written off in a section which could produce plenty of twists and turns.

It was an even contest before the opening goal and Poland were made to look poor by a Senegal side who excelled in protecting their lead.

Creative midfielder Piotr Zielinski showed his quality at times but there was a lack of movement of front of him.

Adam Nawalka switched to a back three at half-time but there was a lack of quality width and they looked defensively vulnerable without injured centre-back Kamil Gilk.

The Monaco man is still with the squad and his return cannot come soon enough.

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