French coach Roger Lemerre picked Thierry Henry, David Trezeguet, Sylvain Wiltord and Youri Djorkaeff in a formidable looking starting line-up.

Djorkaeff was handed the onerous task of replacing the injured Zinedine Zidane, while Henry and Wiltord had been detailed to slot in on the left and right flanks respectively.

Senegal were making their World Cup finals debut, with striker Diouf and midfielder Khalilou Fadiga the creative hearts of the team.

If Senegal were daunted, they did not show it and in the first minute, after Marcel Desailly conceded a free-kick 35 yards out, Fadiga's chip found Diouf who flicked a header across goal which caused French hearts to flutter before the ball was bundled clear.

The same pair combined again in the fifth minute, when Diouf beat Desailly on the left, cut in along the dead-ball line and found Fadiga, but the midfielder's stabbed shot was easily fielded by Fabien Barthez.

France, while enjoying the lion's share of possession in the opening quarter of an hour, were unable to manufacture a decent chance, despite some promising probing by both Henry and Wiltord.

Trezeguet, who was in superb scoring form for Juventus last season, was presented with a clear sight of goal after Omar Daf mis-headed Barthez's long punt upfield.

Trezeguet was clean through but goalkeeper Tony Sylva was quick off his line to shut him out.

After 21 minutes, Henry's quickness of foot and speed of mind saw the Arsenal player slip a lovely ball into Trezeguet, who took one touch before curling a shot that struck the post.

Henry's burst opened up Senegal again, but failed to find Djorkaeff, then the unthinkable happened - and France went behind.

Not surprisingly, Diouf was the mastermind. He left Leboeuf on the seat of his shorts and fired in a cross which Emmanuel Petit knocked against Barthez and Papa Bouba Diop was able to slam the loose ball into the empty net from a sitting position.

France attempted an immediate reply, and Henry's overhead kick looked tempting for Trezeguet, but he could not make significant contact with his head.

Djorkaeff had a long-range free-kick but Sylva was equal to his effort.

Four minutes before the break, Djorkaeff blazed over from 20 yards as France pressed.

Wiltord then ended an excellent run with a shot on target, but without the necessary power.

Diouf, however, remained a constant menace and only the offside flag prevented Senegal from having chances to go further in front.

Just before the break Petit earned himself a caution for chopping the striker down.