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These teams: The Netherlands name uncapped goalkeeper Andries Noppert in their starting line-up, while Senegal have chosen Krepin Diatta as Sadio Mane’s replacement. Senegal have nine players from their Africa Cup of Nations winning team in their starting line-up.
After much speculation over the identity of the Dutch goalkeeper, coach Louis van Gaal chose Noppert, who at 6ft 8in is the tallest player at this World Cup, despite having yet to play an international game. Denzel Dumfries starts at right-back for the Netherlands, although his participation is in doubt in the build-up to the match.
Alignment Senegal-Netherlands
Senegal (4-3-3): Edouard Mendy, Koulibaly, Cisse, Gueye, Papy Mendy, Kouyate, Dia, Diatta, Sarr, Sabaly, Diallo.
Netherlands (3-4-1-2): Noppert, De Ligt, Van Dijk, Ake, Bergwijn, Gakpo, Berghuis, Blind, Janssen, De Jong, Dumfries.
Netherlands: “Louis van Gaal believes the Netherlands can win the World Cup because his squad has ‘higher average quality’ than the group he led to third at Brazil 2014,” writes Doha’s Jamie Jackson.
Senegal without Sadio: The Bayern Munich striker’s injury is a blow, but the African champions have a pragmatic approach to tournament football under Aliou Cissé, writes Ed Aarons.
Today’s match officials
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Referee: Wilton Sampaio (Brazil)
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Assistant referees: Bruno Boschilia (Brazil) and Bruno Pires (Brazil)
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Video Assistant Referee: Juan Soto (Venezuela)
Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio is in charge of tonight’s match between Senegal and the Netherlands. Photograph: Sergio Moraes/Reuters
Early news from the team
As mentioned above, Senegal are without Sadio Mané, who could be replaced by Monaco winger Krepin Diatta. RB Leipzig centre-back Abou Diallo could miss out with a knee injury.
The Netherlands are also missing a key player, with Memphis Depay out for this game with at least a hamstring injury. Denzel Dumfries could also miss out after picking up an injury while playing for Inter last weekend, while midfielder Marten De Roon’s participation is also in doubt.
Memphis Depay (left) has been training with the Netherlands as he recovers from a hamstring injury but is highly unlikely to play in today’s opener. Photograph: Hollandse Hoogte/REX/Shutterstock
Updated at 15.36 GMT
Group A: Senegal – Netherlands
Qatar’s 40,000-capacity Al-Thumama Stadium is the venue for today’s meeting between Senegal and the Netherlands. Scheduled to host eight different matches in this tournament, it hosted its first match thirteen months ago.
The African champions suffered a hammer blow ahead of the tournament with the news that their star player Sadio Mané had been ruled out for the duration after picking up an injury while playing for Bayern Munich which sent their international coach Aliou Cisse on the drawing board.
The Netherlands come into this tournament having qualified as group winners under Louis van Gaal and have since won five of six Nations League games, drawing the other. Kick-off for this tantalizing match pitting Africa’s best against one of Europe’s best is at 16:00 (GMT), but stay tuned in the meantime for news and team formations.