The current World Cup champions, France, are part of Group D, and they will kick off the campaign to reconquer the title on the 22nd of November.
Nonetheless, don’t think that it will be a walk in the park for France to get out of this group on the top spot. Denmark is a force to reckon with, as proved last year in the Euro 2020, where they achieved the semifinals, only being eliminated in extra time against England.
Plus, it is important to note that Denmark faced France twice in their Nations League group and they won the games against Les Bleus both at home and away.
So, France should qualify easily for the next stage, but don’t write off the possibility of Denmark qualifying above them.
Tunisia and Australia seem to be the outsiders of this group, with the Socceroos being one of the last teams to qualify. They only qualified after a playoff against Peru, where they won in the penalty shootout.
So, will they at least be able to overcome Tunisia for a third-place finish? Here is everything you need to know about World Cup group D.
Australia book their ticket to the World Cup and fill out Group D! 🌍 pic.twitter.com/n94mHJYmxQ
— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 13, 2022
QATAR WORLD CUP 2022 GROUP D CALENDAR:
22 November 2022: Denmark – Tunisia
22 November 2022: France – Australia
26 November 2022: Tunisia – Australia
26 November 2022: France – Denmark
30 November 2022: Australia – Denmark
30 November 2022: Tunisia – France
France
France enters the competition as World Champions, hoping to become the first country since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup.
After 1998 in France and 2018 in Russia, current World Champions France will attempt to win their third World Cup in the nation’s history.
After winning 5 games and drawing 3 during the world cup qualifying round, France was able to finish first in Group D, ahead of nations like Finland and Ukraine.
However, France enters the FIFA World Cup following fairly disappointing performances in the UEFA Nations League, when they finished third in a group alongside Croatia, Austria, and ironically enough, World Cup group opponent Denmark, who went on to win both games.
Whether France is the same team that won the last world cup and whether they have what it takes to defeat Denmark and take first place in the group after those two losses are two questions facing them at this time.
Recently Ballon D’or winner Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Kylian Mbappe (PSG), and young stars like C. Nkunku (Leipzig) and Jules Koundé (FC Barcelona) will be relied upon to attempt and win back-to-back World Cups.
A big absence due to injury for France is N’Golo Kante. Nonetheless, Real Madrid’s duo Camavinga and Tchouameni should be able to cover for Kante’s place in midfield.
ClutchBuzz odds price them as the favorites to win the group at -250.
France World Cup Possible Starting 11
Coach: Didier Deschamps
France World Cup Squad:
AUSTRALIA
Australia’s sixth World Cup won’t be simple, as they’ll be up against France and Denmark. After placing third in their group, Australia was forced to compete in the AFC Fourth Round against the United Arab Emirates.
Australia ultimately won 2-1 to advance to the inter-confederation playoffs, where they faced Peru, the CONMEBOL-qualified team. Australia also won that match 5-4 on penalties, securing its place in the World Cup.
The Australian team has some experienced players like Mathew Ryan (Copenhagen), Jackson Irvine (St.Pauli), Aaron Mooy (Celtic) and Awer Mabil (Cadiz).
Nonetheless, they look like outsiders in this group and they have a mountain to climb if they want to compete for a place in the round of 16. ClutchBuzz odds price them to win the group at +1400.
Australia World Cup Possible Starting 11
Coach: Graham Arnold
Australia World Cup Squad:
The final World Cup squad for the Socceroos was announced on the 8th of November 2022. Here are the 26 players.
Goalkeepers: Matt Ryan (Copenhagen), Andrew Redmayne (Sydney FC), Mitchell Degenek (Nagoya Grampus).
Defenders: Milos Degenek (Columbus Crew), Fran Karacic (Brescia), Nathanial Atkinson (Hearts), Bailey Wright (Sunderland), Aziz Behich (Dundee United), Ryan Strain (St Mirren), Trent Sainsbury (Al-Wakrah), Harrison Delbridge (Incheon United), Joel King (OB), Thomas Deng (Albirex Niigata).
Midfielders: Denis Genreau (Toulouse), Ajdin Hrustic (Verona), Aaron Mooy (Celtic), Riley McGree (Middlesbrough), Jackson Irvine (St. Pauli), Connor Metcalfe (St Pauli), Keanu Baccus (St Mirren), Cameron Devlin (Hearts), Tyrese Francois (Gorica).
Forwards: Martin Boyle (Hibernian), Mathew Leckie (Melbourne City), Jamie Maclaren (Melbourne City), Awer Mabil (Cadiz), Mitchell Duke (Fagiano Okayama), Marco Tilio (Melbourne City), Jason Cummings (Central Coast Mariners), Adam Taggart (Cerezo Osaka).
DENMARK
Eriksen’s tragic cardiac arrest mid-game during Denmark’s last EURO campaign will live on forever in people’s minds, but in their sixth World Cup, Denmark will hope to prove that their appearance in Euro 2020 semi-finals wasn’t a stroke of luck and they will count on Eriksen’s remarkable comeback.
Denmark entered the World Cup following a remarkable UEFA Nations League campaign in which they finished second to Croatia after defeating their fellow World Cup group opponent, France, twice.
The excellent Danish team will be led by standout player Christian Eriksen (Manchester United), midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Tottenham), captain Simon Kjaer (AC Milan), and goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel (Nice), son of the legendary Peter Schmeichel.
Plus, they boast some promising young talents, like Benfica’s Alexander Bah and Brentford’s Mikkel Damsgaard.
France’s biggest group D rivals for the top place are undoubtedly Denmark. If you want to find an underdog to back, Denmark might be a smart pick.
ClutchBuzz odds price them to win the group at +275.
Denmark World Cup Possible Starting 11
Coach: Kasper Hjulmand
Denmark World Cup Squad:
On the 8th of November, Denmark’s coach announced 21 of the 26 players that will be in Qatar. Among them is Christian Eriksen, who will captain the team.
Goalkeepers: Kasper Schmeichel, Oliver Christensen.
Defenders: Rasmus Kristensen, Jens Stryger Larsen, Daniel Wass, Simon Kjaer, Andreas Christensen, Victor Nelsson, Joachim Andersen, Joakim Moehle.
Midfielders: Christian Eriksen, Mathias Jensen, Pierre Emile Hojbjerg, Thomas Delaney, Jesper Lindstrom, Andreas Skov Olsen, Mikkel Damsgaard.
Forwards: Kasper Dolberg, Martin Braithwaite, Andreas Cornelius, Jonas Wind.
Tunisia
What to anticipate from Tunisia is a great question, as the African nation will have a very difficult assignment to advance to the knockout stages in their 5th World Cup appearance.
Equatorial Guinea and Zambia were left behind as Tunisia won four games, lost one and drew one to advance from Group B of the CAF qualifying.
Tunisia then defeated Mali in the third round to get to the World Cup. Some of the best players on the Tunisia side are Skhiri (FC Koln) and Khazri (Montpellier).
ClutchBuzz odds price them to win the group at +1600 and to qualify at +300.
Tunisia World Cup Possible Starting 11
Coach: Jalel Kadri
Final Thoughts
Despite two obvious outsiders in this group, there is a legitimate argument to make on whether Denmark will or won’t be able to challenge France for the top place in this group.
Although they have less depth in their team, the spirit of this Danish team is one of the best in their history and their sheer determination might see them taking over the French when they go head to head in Qatar.
Meanwhile, Tunisia and Australia simply will have to hope for a miracle to get out of this group, but the match between both teams will be crucial for their aspirations.
We will hold on to the thought that Denmark has what it takes to top this group, perhaps sneaking a draw against France and edging them on goal difference.
Credits Featured Image: Tasnim News Agency, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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