[Billet d'humour] La Tanière des sentiments
Pape Thiaw undoubtedly has a big heart. The problem is that the World Cup isn't played with heart or memories. It's played with legs, stamina, and sometimes a bit of ruthlessness in the choices made.
Against France, the Lions conceded three goals. A defeat that already seemed like a wake-up call. In the post-match press conference, the coach promised to have reviewed the game and identified the necessary adjustments. The Senegalese were therefore expecting to see a new version of the game plan. Instead, they witnessed a simple update of the home screen. Same team, same faces, same promises... and almost the same result: three goals conceded again.
At this level, keeping the same starting eleven after a humiliating defeat is less about continuity than about marital fidelity. Pape Thiaw seems to view his team like a family WhatsApp group: even when some members haven't responded for months, they're kept on out of affection.
In the Den, status sometimes seems more important than physical fitness. Some key players enjoy a level of security that even the most privileged civil servants in the country might envy. They play because they have played. They are starters because they were starters. Soon, some will be selected for services rendered to the nation between 2017 and 2022.
Meanwhile, the youngsters are watching. They're watching a lot. They're watching so much they could be given professional spectator cards. Assane Dia, Bara Sapoko Ndiaye, and other emerging talents need to start believing that the bench is a legitimate tactical position.
And then there's Ibrahima Mbaye, the famous "super sub." A fascinating role. Every time he comes on, he brings danger, movement, and solutions. But his reward is consistently to be relegated to the bench for the next match. At this rate, he'll soon be receiving the Ballon d'Or for substitutes.
As for tactical changes, they often arrive with the bureaucratic speed of a file forgotten in an air-conditioned office. By the time they finally happen, the damage has already been done.
The most worrying thing is that Pape Thiaw is starting to develop a syndrome well known to Senegalese supporters: "acute cissism". This strange disease consists of confusing loyalty with stubbornness, experience with immunity, patience with inaction.
Modern football is simple, though. It rewards neither achievements nor memories. The pitch is a merciless judge that doesn't hand out honorary medals. It rewards only those who run faster, think faster, and play better.
Feelings make for beautiful songs. But in a World Cup, when you pick a team with your heart, it's often the fans who end up with a stomachache.
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