Senegal's World Cup elimination: Coach Pape Thiaw's decisions questioned after match against Belgium

Initially, Senegal dominated Belgium with intense pressing and strong midfield play, making the Belgian team unrecognizable and unable to develop their game. However, the article suggests that Thiaw's choices ultimately revived Belgium's chances. One point of contention was the prolonged presence of Sadio Mané, who appeared to be losing intensity and effectiveness, despite his legendary status.

The most criticized decisions were the substitutions of Pape Gueye and Habib Diarra, described as the "lungs" of the team, who were instrumental in ball recovery and maintaining pressure. Their removal led to a collapse in Senegal's midfield dominance, allowing Belgium to gain control and exploit newly opened spaces. The article argues that Thiaw's substitutions, intended to correct difficulties, instead created disorder and destroyed the team's identity, effectively handing the advantage to Belgium.

The author concludes that while players bear some responsibility, the coach's decisions were a major factor in Senegal's defeat, leaving fans to question why a dominating team was altered in such a critical match.