The Lions of Teranga, who were seeking to beat France for the second time in the group stage campaign of the global showpiece, produced a performance full of courage, quality and ambition, but were ultimately punished in the second half.
Senegal looked every bit the equal of the 2022 World Cup finalists and at times appeared the more dangerous side, but the game was decided through the brilliance of Kylian Mbappe.
Mbappe scored twice and Bradley Barcola added another after Senegal had competed strongly throughout the opening hour but were not able to find the back of the net.
Ibrahim Mbaye had threatened a comeback for Senegal after he scored to make it 2-1, but it was not enough to sustain pressure on France, who went ahead to carry the day.
‘The score is a bit heavy’
“I think we have nothing to be ashamed of in the first half. We played a very good half; we put them under pressure. In the second half, they came back with a bit more pressure and put us under pressure when we lost possession,” said Koulibaly after the pulsating Group I game.
“The score is a bit heavy, I think it’s undeserved, but that’s part of football. These are the details. Today, we faltered in a few situations.”
Koulibaly added: “A defeat right from the start is a shame. We know very well that Senegal likes to start competitions strong. It's a pity we didn't.
It was a very difficult match against a team that has reached two finals in the last two editions, so they are one of the best teams in the world.”
With two matches remaining in the group stage, Koulibaly called upon the team to make amends from mistakes committed during the France game and get ready for an improved display.
“We need to correct the details, the turnovers. Defensively, we need to fix that. Conceding three goals is huge in a World Cup. Up front, we need to start scoring,” explained the Lions of Teranga captain.
“We're in a tournament. We have to remember the good things and work on what we did less well. We're angry, we want to win matches. It's a shame, I know we've disappointed a lot of fans, but we have to stay united.”
Senegal objective still alive
Senegal midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye maintained the outcome did not reflect the nature of the opening game.
“We started this match well. Unfortunately, in the second half, we conceded those goals. I think the scoreline is very, very harsh, but it's a football match,” said Gueye.
“It's only the beginning of the competition, and I think this match will allow us to correct the mistakes we made during this game and be ready for the next one. That's the most important thing.”
Gueye while considering Senegal’s performance in both halves, said: “We conceded that goal very early in the second half, and then we lacked a bit of rhythm to score the equaliser.
“After that, there were chances, notably Jackson's goal that was disallowed. I think if we had scored it at 1-1, it would have changed the game.”
Despite the defeat, Gueye remained confident that Senegal still stands a good chance of qualifying to reach the knockout phase.
“Now, we have to concentrate on the next match. The objective is still there, which is to get out of the group stage first. We still have two matches ahead of us, and we need to prepare them well,” Gueye concluded.
Senegal will next face Norway on June 23rd, who kicked off their campaign with a 4-1 win against Iraq.
