SEOUL, May 30: Senegal refused to let an allegation of a jewellery theft by one of their players spoil Thursday’s final dress rehearsal for the biggest night in their soccer history — a World Cup debut against champions France.

Just two days before Friday’s opening match in the Korean capital, the Senegalese camp was hit by news on Wednesday that their midfielder Khalilou Fadiga had been placed under investigation on suspicion of stealing a gold necklace in Taegu, one of the World Cup venues.

But after his squad trained on a slightly damp pitch at the Seoul World Cup stadium — the venue for Friday’s opening game against the French in group A, coach Bruno Metsu said: “We are here to talk about football. Nothing else interests us.”

Metsu refused to discuss Fadiga further though he is expected to play on Friday.

Captain Aliou Cisse added: “The atmosphere in our camp is good.”

Senegal could not have picked a more glamorous game for their World Cup debut. But since almost all of the squad from the French-speaking West African country, earn their living in France, they are not entering totally unknown territory.

Metsu, who is French, refused to suggest his team were confident of victory, however, and was cautious not to talk about his side’s tactics.

“It is a great honour to be here. But they are world champions. They have the best players in the world in their positions,” he said. “We hope to get in their way a bit and will try our best.”

Asked if his team would play defensively, he added: “There are two things in football. If you don’t have the ball, you defend. If you have it, you attack.

“But we are not just going to be content to be here. We are not on holiday. We want to try to get to the second round. It would be a great achievement.”—Reuters