FRENCH-FRIED STUNNER SACRE BLEU: SENEGAL BEATS DEFENDING CHAMP SENEGAL 1, FRANCE 0.

Byline: Paul Oberjuerge Staff Writer

SEOUL, South Korea - Meanwhile, among the two-thirds of the human race that never has heard of the NBA or the NHL, all the talk today is of Senegal's 1-0 upset of defending champion France in the opening match Friday of the 2002 World Cup.

This was a shock as big as the Eiffel Tower. A World Cup first-timer knocking off the co-favorite to win this tournament. The Third World over the First. Africa over Europe. The former colony over its colonizers.

``We have realized our dreams,'' said Bruno Metsu, Senegal's French coach. ``I am very satisfied. It is a reward for Senegal and its players. We are very happy with this incredible feat.''

Senegal midfielder Papa Bouba Diop tapped in a fluky goal from a sitting position in the 30th minute, and France failed to convert on a half-dozen excellent scoring chances as the event formally known as the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan began with one of the bigger upsets in the history of the sport.

It was a result that no doubt prompted millions of people to scour maps of Africa looking for Senegal, heretofore known as ``one of those skinny little countries'' on the coast of West Africa.

``Before this game, I thought my friend (Metsu) would have good tactics,'' French coach Roger Lemerre said. ``The French side had some domination against the Senegalese team, but we did not get a goal. We will do our best to change our results against our next partners in the field.''

LeMerre predicted France still will finish in the top two of Group A and advance to the second round. Senegal, with three points for a victory, probably can move forward with ties vs. Denmark and Uruguay.

France clearly missed playmaking midfielder Zinedine Zidane, two-time world Player of the Year out at least two games with an injury. His replacement, Youri Djorkaeff, not only lacks Zidane's organizational skills and scoring prowess, he also gave up the ball at midfield on the play that led to the only goal.

Djorkaeff was stripped by Senegal midfielder Salif Diao, who knocked the ball forward to midfielder Khalilou Fadiga, sprinting up the left side. Fadiga jumped over a tackle attempt by French defender Frank LeBoeuf, carried the ball to the end line and turned toward the goal.

Fadiga attempted to center the ball to Diop, who was steaming into the box, but it deflected slightly off the foot of French captain Marcel Desailly. The ball then went onto the foot of French midfielder Emmanuel Petit, whose clearance attempt instead caromed off the hands of goalkeeper Fabien Barthez and right in front of Diop, who by now was on the ground scant feet from the goal.

He swept at the ball with his left foot and Senegal led 1-0.

In an oddity of the game, all 11 of Senegal's players play for teams in the French domestic league, meaning they weren't exactly strangers to the French soccer fans who packed the north end of Seoul's new World Cup Stadium.

France, meanwhile, has graduated its current crop of stars to the big-money leagues in Italy, England and Germany; only one of its starters (LeBoeuf) plays in France.

Djorkaeff was bluntly benched in the 60th minute, but France had chances before and after he left.

France forward David Trezeguet smacked a shot off the post in the 20th minute, and his runningmate up top, Thierry Henry, floated a shot over Senegal goalie Tony Sylva that caromed off the crossbar in the 66th minute. LeBoeuf and Henry each had heavy shots deflected by Sylva in the waning minutes.

So, it's back to the real world for France, which enjoyed a storybook 1998 World Cup before its home fans, winning all seven games it played, including the 3-0 blitz of Brazil in the championship match.

And Senegal, population 8.8 million, assumes the mantle of soccer euphoria. At least until Thursday, when it meets Denmark in its second game.

LOOKING AHEAD

ENGLAND vs. SWEDEN

Time: Sunday, 2:25 a.m.

TV: Ch. 34 (Spanish); Ch. 7 (Sunday, 12:30 p.m., tape).

Matchup: All of England, and millions of fans worldwide, will find out Sunday morning whether star midfielder David Beckham is fit to return from a broken left foot. Beckham plans to play the full 90 minutes, and his effectiveness is key to England's chances in this match and against the rest of Group F, the highly competitive ``Group of Death'' that also includes Argentina and Nigeria. Midfielder Kieron Dyer also is available after recovering from a right-knee injury. Several of the Swedes play professionally in England and Scotland, including attacking midfielder Freddie Ljungberg and forward Henrik Larsson.

Prediction: England 1, Sweden 1. Not the result either team wants, but neither has a clear edge.

- Bill Elstrom

CAPTION(S):

photo, 2 boxes

Photo:

Senegal's Papa Bouba Diop, right, kicks the ball past France's goalkeeper Fabien Barthez, left, as teammates Emmanuel Petit and Youri Djorkaeff arrive late.

Elise Amendola/Associated Press

Box:

(1) WORLD CUP GLANCE

(2) LOOKING AHEAD

ENGLAND vs. SWEDEN (see text)