Poland vs Senegal: Africa's best, 0-0 is a thing of the past and Lewandowski and Mane need more help

Poland 1-2 Senegal: Five things we learned from Group H clash at Spartak Stadium

Senegal got their first World Cup campaign since 2002 off to the perfect start by beating Poland 2-1 in Moscow, with M’Baye Niang capitalising on Grzegorz Krychowiak’s mistake after Thiago Cionek’s own goal had broken the deadlock in the first half.

Idrissa Gueye’s wayward shot cannoned off the leg of Cionek in the 37th minute, and Milan’s on-loan striker Niang made sure of the victory when he raced onto Krychowiak’s ill-advised backpass and beat Wojciech Szczesny to the ball before slotting into an empty net.

Krychowiak’s late header gave Poland hope of a comeback, but Senegal held on.

Here are five things we learned from the match:

Senegal are the best of the African teams

(EPA)

Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria and Tunisia had all tasted defeat in their opening matches, but Senegal broke the curse on the African sides in convincing fashion against Poland.

This alone isn’t enough to hail them the finest their continent has to offer, of course, but in Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly and Gueye they undoubtedly have the best headline talent. Aliou Cisse has also constructed a formidable defensive unit, the key ingredient in any success at major international tournaments.

Then there is Group H, devoid of tournament heavyweights and very much there for the taking now that Poland and Colombia have their backs against the wall.

Senegal expect this team to match the historic achievement of 2002, and all the conditions are there.

We're not going to get a 0-0 at this World Cup

Idrissa Gana Gueye of Senegal celebrates the first Senegal goal (Getty Images)

If any game in Russia this summer should have been destined to end goalless, it was this one. Poland and Senegal showed each other maximum respect with their tactics, neither side committing too many men forward and both focusing on swarming the other team’s primary attacking threat. And yet in an opening 45 minutes that yielded no shots on target, we somehow got a goal.

An own goal, to be precise – the fourth already in this tournament. The only World Cups to have more were 1998 (six) and 2014 (five), and we’re only through the first round of matches!

This is the first World Cup since 2002 not to have any goalless draws by the time every team had played once. Between players booting the ball into their own net and VAR awarding penalties at a record-breaking pace, it’s clear the footballing gods have outlawed the 0-0 this summer.

Fortune doesn't always favour the brave

(REUTERS)

Cisse was widely criticised for his pragmatism during Senegal’s qualifying campaign and despite setting his team up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, their performance at Spartak Stadium was in keeping with their manager’s attitude.

Gueye ventured forward just once, to hit the deflected shot that put Senegal in front. In the main it was left entirely to Mane to create with the ball at his feet with Keita Balde Diao, the Monaco forward who could have provided additional invention, on the bench.

Poland were no better. Their full-backs largely stayed behind the halfway line, frightened by Senegal’s pace, while Robert Lewandowski and Arkadiusz Milik were left to forage for themselves with little supply from the flanks or support from Napoli playmaker Piotr Zielinski.

Neither side really did enough to merit winning, but Senegal won with a stroke of luck and a gift nonetheless.

Lewandowski and Mane need more help

(EPA)

Thrills were few and far between at Spartak Moscow as a moment of misfortune and a mistake, rather than any of the big names on either side, settled proceedings.

Mane had little success with his dribbling and actually caused more panic in the Poland defence as a passer, though in the end Senegal’s goals arrived independent from their captain.

At the other end Lewandowski, arguably the world’s greatest pure striker, was almost entirely stifled. There was precious little evidence of his chemistry with Milik and his most dangerous contribution was a free-kick that Khadim N’Diaye parried away.

It was a timely reminder that even world-class players generally struggle to shine in a stagnant attacking system – unless your name is Cristiano Ronaldo.

Japan should have no fear in Group H

(AP)

Akira Nishino’s team were considered clear outsiders heading into this tournament, and consequently their 2-1 win over Colombia was a big upset.

Watching events unfold at Spartak Stadium, however, it was clear that causing an opening-round shock should not be the limit of their ambitions.

Poland have serious structural problems and Senegal scored only by virtue of their opponents’ mistakes. Group H is a group of flawed teams and Japan, with three points on the board, should be as confident in their chances as anyone.