Malo Gusto and Mamadou Sarr may have been unused substitutes, but Nicolas Jackson started as Senegal lost 3-1 to France.
France kicked off their 2026 World Cup campaign with a victory over Senegal at the MetLife Stadium, but the lineup decisions sparked plenty of debate.
Despite Malo Gusto impressing during the warm-up match against Northern Ireland, where he replaced Jules Kounde at halftime and set up Michael Olise, Didier Deschamps opted for Jules Kounde.
Meanwhile, Mamadou Sarr remained an unused substitute. The young Chelsea centre-back, who chose to represent Senegal over France, had put in a standout performance during the warm-up games. However, manager Pape Thiaw relied on a partnership that involved former Chelsea star Kalidou Koulibaly.
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Nicolas Jackson’s display against France
Nicolas Jackson endured a frustrating but lively World Cup opener. The striker spearheaded a dominant first-half display, striking the post in the 25th minute.
And he thought he had equalised in the 68th minute, but his effort was agonizingly ruled out for offside.
According to FotMob, Jackson had one shot, three touches in the opposition’s box, 32 touches, a passing accuracy percentage of 71, created two chances, made one tackle, two recoveries and two clearances, as well as winning two duels and losing a whopping 12.
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Nicolas Jackson shows he still has a lot to improve
Nicolas Jackson’s performance offered a stark reminder of both his immense potential and the areas where he desperately needs to improve.
Despite flashes of promise, he still struggles for consistency in front of goal.
To truly excel at the highest level, Jackson must sharpen his finishing ability, as his tendency to squander key chances let him down at Chelsea too.
Furthermore, his overall game suffered due to difficulties with his hold-up play. Against a physical pairing of Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba, he found it challenging to protect the ball, frequently losing possession and preventing Senegal from building sustained momentum.
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