France should have the ball, with a **4-2-3-1** built around Mbappé’s freedom to attack the left channel and force Senegal’s back line into constant emergency defending, while Senegal’s **4-3-3** will look to press, compress the middle, and spring quickly through Mané and Sarr. The key battles are Mbappé vs. Senegal’s right side, and Thuram/Barcola attacking the space behind Senegal’s fullbacks when the press breaks; Senegal’s best route is to turn the game into a transition-and-second-ball fight rather than a settled-possession match. France’s edge is their attacking depth and control if they can pin Senegal back, but Senegal can keep it live if Mané drops into midfield to link play and drag Tchouaméni/Rabiot out of shape. The deciding factor is likely whether Senegal can survive France’s first wave without conceding space in behind, because once France find open grass, their front three can overwhelm nearly any man-to-man structure.
