Senegal

Senegal appear to have settled back into the familiar 4-2-3-1 / 4-3-3 seen at AFCON, but Pape Thiaw's flirtations with back three concepts have not disappeared entirely. The latest run out of the 3-4-3 against the US was not ideal. Thiaw likes his wider players - wingers, wing-backs and full-backs alike - pushed high up the pitch to assist in Senegal's relentless press; this is generally the case regardless of how many centre-halves are fielded at any given time. In this instance, Les Lions were outmatched by the combination play of the American wing-backs in the wide areas.

There is ample reason for confidence in the back four version of Senegal. At AFCON, Moussa Niakhaté emerged as the preferred left-footed centre-half counterpart for Kalidou Koulibaly, but their partnership was disrupted by injury and suspension - they should have a fresh slate here. The AFCON midfield trio of Pape Gueye, Lamine Camara and the deeper-lying Idrissa Gueye may open the tournament here, but the Senegalese midfield pool now finds itself silly with ascendant talents like Habib Diarra and Bara Ndiaye who are ready to show out on a bigger stage. In the front three, the places of Sadio Mané and Nicolas Jackson are set; the third is flexible but it will likely be Iliman Ndiaye to start, while AFCON super-sub Ismaïla Sarr or the prodigious Ibrahim Mbaye could provide a spark off the bench.