Sportco FIFA World Cup Flashback: France vs Senegal 2002 | Lineup | As it Happened

Senegal vs France: 2002 World Cup Flashback

On 31st May 2002, Senegal shocked the football world as they registered one of the biggest upsets in the FIFA World Cup history. 

The Seoul World Cup Stadium was witnessing history in its own terms as it became the first Asian stadium to stage a FIFA World Cup match. 

In the most extraordinary starts ever, defending World as well as European champions France were beaten 0-1 by competition debutants Senegal.

• At the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Senegal were playing their first ever World Cup game beating France 0-1 thanks to a goal from Papa Bouba Diop
• France consisted the likes of David Trezeguet, Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry – All part of France’s golden generation of football
• The 0-1 defeat saw France get eliminated in the group stages of the FIFA World Cup

Senegal vs France: 2002 World Cup Lineup

France (4-3-3-): Fabien Barthez; Lilian Thuram, Marcel Desailly, Frank Leboeuf, Bixente Lizarazu; Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit, Youri Djorkaeff; Sylvain Wiltord, David Trezeguet, Thierry Henry

Senegal (5-4-1):  Tony Sylva; Omar Daf, Lamine Diatta, Aliou Cisse, Ferdinand Coly, Pape Malick Diop; Khalilou Fadiga, Salif Diao, Pape Bouba Diop, Moussa Ndiaye; El Hadji Diouf

FIRST HALF:

19th Minute: Trezeguet squanders a good opportunity when he goes one on one against Sylva nad knocks the ball against the on-rushing goalkeeper.

25th Minute: Diouf wins a free kick on the sideline when he takes on Desailly and is brought down. Barthez finds Djorkaeff who is relieved of the ball by Cisse. Diouf, a real live wire, finds himself alone in the French half with the ball at his feet. Offside.

29th Minute: GOAL!!!1-0 to Senegal as the crowd goes bonkers. Papa Bouba Diop scores the first-ever World Cup goal for Senegal against the reigning and defending World and European Champions.

45th Minute: Emmanuel Petit gets the first yellow card of the 2002 World Cup finals for a clumsy challenge on - who else - the sublime Diouf.

Half Time: France 0-1 Senegal 

54th Minute: Thuram gets a beautiful cross on to the head of Trezeguet, who fails to connect properly in the Senegal box and scuffs it wide. France retain possession from the kick-out, Thierry Henry takes on the Senegal defence and crosses, but there's nobody there to meet it. 

68th Minute: Henry runs at four Senegal defenders and is brought down outside the box. No free kick. Wiltord gets a cross in and Trezeguet gets a flick on it which takes it away from Henry. France are looking very, very dangerous.

83rd Minute: Henry sets up Leboeuf for a shot and he strikes crisply from outside the box, but straight at Sylva. Now he's having a nervous breakdown good.

93rd Minute: In their World Cup debut, Senegal have stunned the world champions in one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history. Needless to say, the players are thrilled. They rode their luck at times, but fully deserved their win.

Full Time: France 0-1 Senegal

The match between France and Senegal at the 2002 World Cup is still considered one of the biggest upsets in world football. 

The then world champions, France, eventually bowed out of the 2002 FIFA World Cup at the group stage in what was considered one of the worst world cup campaigns for the Les Blues.