The Netherlands vs Senegal promises to be an enticing encounter

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.

Players to Watch
Senegal: Boulaye Dia 
Losing Mane to injury just before the tournament was a cruel blow for Senegal, the forward having been directly involved in 12 of their past 25 goals in major tournaments.

It will now be down to others to step up and fill the void, such as Salernitana forward Boulaye Dia, who has been in good form at club level this campaign.

Dia has six goals in 14 Serie A matches across 2022-23 so far – a tally only five others can better – and has been directly involved in eight overall for a mid-table Italian club.

Netherlands: Memphis Depay 
Depay has played just three games for Barcelona this season, totalling 131 minutes of action, with his most recent game coming in September.

Despite unlikely being fit enough to play a full part against Senegal, Van Gaal has said the forward was far too important to leave out of his 26-man squad.

Little wonder given he was involved in more goals than any other player in European qualifiers for the World Cup (18), with 12 goals of his own and six assists in 10 matches.

Prediction
The Netherlands have won 11 of their past 14 matches at the World Cup, penalty shootouts excluded, with their most recent group-stage loss coming in 1994 against Belgium.

Senegal are tricky first opponent for the Dutch, but Opta's prediction model has given the Netherlands a 59.2% chance of taking all three points in Al Thumama.

The prediction model gives Senegal a 17% chance of victory, while a draw is rated at 23.8%.