World Cup Preview (Group D)
- FRANCE
France is one of the biggest football nations in the world. They are the current holders of the World Cup, winning it for the second time in Russia. The team from 2018 matched the famous 1998 generation, who won the World Cup in France, where the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Marcel Desailly, Patrick Vieira, Didier Deschamps and Thierry Henry became national icons. It was a trajectory that many saw, reaching the final of the 2016 Euros on home soil, but they lost to Portugal. In the last European Championships in 2021, France was one of the favourites but suffered elimination very early, losing to Switzerland on penalties. They qualified for the final without much fuss, topping their group unbeaten with only three goals conceded. France's production of players over the past twenty years is pretty impressive, giving them a pool of players others envies to have. Coach Didier Deschamps has the blessing or burden of selecting these players for his final squad, but he will be without midfielders Paul Pogba and N'golo Kante, who will miss the World Cup due to injury. Having won the World Cup in Russia, Deschamps will be looking to buck the trend of defending champions getting eliminated early and becoming the third nation to retain the World Cup after Italy and Brazil. They have Kylian Mbappe, who burst into the scene four years ago, current Ballon D'or winner Karim Benzema, Ousmane Dembele, Antonie Griezmann, Raphael Varane, the Hernandez brothers and Hugo Lloris. Not to mention the young talents of William Saliba, Ibrahima Konate, Dayot Upamecano, Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga. France should win the group comfortably and can defend their title with a balance of experienced heads and young talent. The only thing that can stop France is themselves and their ego, which has happened before. 2010 anyone? Can Les Bleu defend the gold trophy? Maybe.
Can They Go Through: YES
- DENMARK
Denmark is a country that punches above its weight whilst producing incredible players over the years. From Peter Schmeichel to the Laudrup brothers. Their form going into this World Cup is one of great encouragement, with a possibility that the Danes can go on a deep run. Denmark can create a surprise as they have done it various times over the last thirty years. Denmark shocked the world, winning the European Championship in 1992 and making the quarterfinals of the World Cup in 1998. They did it again last year in the Euros, going to the semifinals with an emotional toll on the squad. In the previous World Cup, they made it to the last 16, losing to finalists Croatia on penalties. Ironically, they face France and Australia again, having faced the French in the Nations League weeks back. Kasper Hjulmand was responsible for their Euro 2020 run and has suffered just nine defeats from 34 games in charge. They made it to the finals comfortably and topped their group with 27 points from ten games. They conceded just three goals, two coming in the final match against Scotland, having already qualified. The team stalwarts include former Leicester City keeper Kasper Schmeichel, AC Milan defender Simon Kjaer, and Christian Eriksen, now at Manchester United. Denmark has used the 4-3-3 formation recently but has utilised the 3-5-2, which brings the best out of their wingbacks Daniel Wass and Joakim Maehle, providing width in the attacking third, allowing the likes of Kaper Dolberg and Mikkel Damsgaard to roam freely. Denmark is the favourite to get out of the group, beating Tunisia and Australia. Their main threat for the top spot is defending champions France, but they have won against France twice, so they have their number right now. With a confident core, solid defence and ability to strike when necessary, the Danish Dynamite are ready to explode.
Can They Go Through: YES
- TUNISIA
If you remember Group C from the 2018 World Cup, this group has the same players except for one team, Tunisia. Tunisia was in a different group in 2018, and this will be their sixth appearance in the finals. Tunisia does not have the domestic dominance of Egypt or the production of players like Algeria, but they are one of the most consistent teams in the African continent. They also have some history in the World Cup, becoming the first African team to win a World Cup game back in 1978, defeating Mexico. They have been in six World Cup finals, with their latest win coming against Panama in 2018. In the last ten African Cup of Nations, Tunisia has failed to get to the knockout stages only twice, in 2010 and 2013, winning the trophy on home soil in 2004. In the latest Nations Cup earlier this year, Tunisia made it to the quarters, beating favourites Nigeria along the way but lost to Burkina Faso. In the World Cup qualifiers, they made it to the final round of qualifiers, fending off Equatorial Guinea. They played Mali in the final qualifier over two legs and made it. They won 1-0 on aggregate courtesy of an own goal. Coach Jalel Kadri has been in the Tunisia set-up as an assistant coach for a year and was appointed coach after Mondher Kebaier left after the African Cup of Nations. Tunisia is a physically imposing side and has deployed a solid 4-3-3 formation. Players of note are forward Wahbi Khazri, now playing at Montpellier, midfielders Ferjani Sassi and Hannibal Mejbri and left-back Ali Maaloul. Tunisia's chances of getting out of the group are slim, and they have never made it out of the group stage. The competition in the group does not help, but they won't feel intimidated by France and Denmark. They may get points from either of those games but lack the sucker punch to take them down. The Eagles of Carthage will be soaring coming into Qatar.
Can They Go Through: NO
- AUSTRALIA
Australia has become a fixture at the World Cup since 2006. Before 2006, they only made one appearance in the finals, which was in 1974. It's an accomplishment for the island nation, having moved to the Asian Football Confederation from the Oceania Football Confederation in 2006. They had the golden generation of the 2000s, bringing the likes of Mark Schwarzer, John Aloisi, Mark Viduka and Harry Kewell. The 2006 World Cup was the high point, reaching the last 16. Competing in Asia, they won the Asian Cup in 2015 on home soil and made it to the final in 2011. The 2006 generation has now passed, and the quality of the team has dropped off, only making it to the quarterfinals in the most recent Asian Cup in 2019. Their qualification campaign was challenging, losing automatic qualification to Saudi Arabia and Japan. Meaning they will continue via the playoffs. They beat the United Arab Emirates to play in the inter-continental playoff against South American side Peru. Underdogs against Peru, the Aussies held them back for over two hours and beat them in a penalty shootout to seal qualification, surprising their supporters, who didn't fancy their chances. Coach Graham Arnold does not have the quality of players his predecessors had in previous editions, as their players play their trade in Europe's second divisions. Their stalwarts include goalkeeper Matthew Ryan and midfielder Aaron Mooy, who has had experience at the highest level. Matthew Leckie will lead the attacking lead for the Socceroos, but one player to look out for is young forward Garang Kuoul, who will be moving to Newcastle United next year. Australia was in the same group as Denmark and France in 2018, and it's more likely the outcome from 2018 will be the same as Australia has regressed while France and Denmark are favourites to go far in the tournament. So, what can we expect from the Socceroos in Qatar? Who knows.
Can They Go Through: NO
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