World Cup hotspots: Senegal's young coach the dream of female fans

Editor's note: Senegal's young coach, the oldest player, Iran's supporters methods to stop Cristiano Ronaldo from scoring, a crayfish craze and a sweet Chinese volunteer are this week's World Cup hot topics.

'Sex symbol' coach creates buzz

Senegal's coach Aliou Cisse set two records at this World Cup, as both the only black coach and the youngest. Want another? Ask female fans.

"I don’t think I’m a sex symbol at all,” he said. “There are millions and millions of Aliou Cisses in Senegal and the world,” said Cisse, 42, who admitted it was nice to be loved.

Cisse, reportedly also the lowest-paid coach, is a soccer hero in Senegal, a country making its second World Cup appearance. The first was in 2002, when Cisse was captain of the team that upset France, the defending champion, in the opening game and eventually advanced to the final eight.

Now with Cisse as coach, the Lions of Teranga opened the tournament in Russia with a 2-1 victory over Poland and followed that with a disappointing 2-2 draw against Japan.

The manager of Senegal is making an impression beyond usual football parameters, but deep down the only thing that concerns him is the quality of the job he can do with his team. He wants the team to bring a mix of mental toughness and the freedom to play ambitious football. Something about this generation reminds him of the class of 2002, and he has given them a challenge — not just to match previous feats but to exceed them.

Social media is boosting him to a new level of international acclaim, and he’s doing his best to make peace with it.