SEOUL, May 31: Debutants Senegal produced one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history when they beat defending champions France 1-0 in the opening match of the tournament on Friday.

A 30th minute goal by midfielder Pape Bouba Diop helped Senegal make a sensational start to their tournament history in a physical first round group A game.

“It was great to score — I’ve always dreamed of that, scoring against the champions of the world,” Diop said.

It was the first defeat suffered by defending champions in the opening World Cup match since Cameroon upset Argentina 1-0 in Italy 12 years ago. The African side went on to reach the quarter-finals, while Argentina recovered to finish runners-up.

It was also France’s first defeat at the World Cup finals since 1986 when they lost 2-0 in the semis to the former West Germany, although they failed to qualify for the 1990 and 1994 tournaments.—Reuters