France arrive at this tournament in the kind of form that makes rival coaches lose sleep. Didier Deschamps has sharpened his attacking machinery considerably since the frustrations of Euro 2024, with Kylian Mbappé delivering 40 goals across all competitions for Real Madrid this season. The 4-2-3-1 structure, built around Michael Olise at the ten, offers creativity and compactness in equal measure, and a recent 2-1 victory over Brazil — achieved with ten men for the final half-hour — underlines just how formidable this side has become. France are, by most measures, the team to beat in this tournament.

Senegal will not be intimidated. Aliou Cissé's side have qualified as one of Africa's most organised and technically gifted nations, and Thierry Henry — speaking as part of Fox's coverage — has already issued a public caution to his compatriots, warning that France must not underestimate their opponents. That is not mere diplomatic courtesy. Senegal carry genuine attacking threat and defensive resilience, and in a group that also contains Norway, nothing can be taken for granted in these opening exchanges.

The tactical battle worth watching closely is Senegal's defensive shape against France's fluid front line. Can they compress the space that Mbappé and Olise crave between the lines? If Senegal sit deep and transition quickly, they have the personnel to punish a French defence that showed vulnerability even in victory against Brazil.

A group stage defeat for either side would significantly complicate their path through Group I.

**Prediction:** France edge a tighter-than-expected contest 2-1, with Mbappé the decisive difference in quality.