Why this call

France possess an exceptional squad featuring Mbappé, Dembélé, Thuram, Olise and Barcola in attack, supported by a deep midfield with Kanté and Tchouaméni and a world-class defensive unit with Saliba, Upamecano and Konaté. Senegal have quality in Mané, Jackson and Ndiaye but are a clear step below France in overall squad depth and individual talent. The head-to-head data is essentially blank, but France are strong favorites on class alone. Senegal will defend deep and make it difficult, but France's attacking quality should be enough to break through for a couple of goals. Confidence in the scoreline is moderate given Senegal's defensive organization and the unpredictability of tournament openers.