Denmark and France will clash at Luzhniki Stadium on Tuesday the 26th of June for top spot in Group C.
Denmark and France will battle it out at the Luzhniki Stadium on Tuesday to determine who will finish top of Group C.
Deschamps’ charges have won their last three matches against Age Hareide’s men and at the time of writing, they’re 21/20 to get another victory, while the Danish Dynamite are priced up at 38/10 to upset Les Bleus, with the draw at 17/10.
Denmark vs France | Group C | Tuesday 26 June | Luzhniki Stadium (16:00)
Denmark vs France | Group C | Tuesday 26 June | Luzhniki Stadium (16:00)
To Win (90 Mins)
Denmark 38/10
Draw 17/10
France 21/20
Denmark
After beating Peru 1-0 in their opening game of the tournament, Denmark drew 1-1 last time out against Australia. Hareide’s men need at least a point here to ensure Australia have no chance of stealing ground on them against Peru and nicking second place.
The Danes could even qualify with a defeat, provided Australia fail to beat Peru, but they will be hoping to build on a solid start and secure their own destiny without reliance on other results.
Denmark have a real match-winner in Christian Eriksen which France will need to look out for. The Tottenham playmaker is one of the best providers in the business, but he finds the net regularly for the Danes, netting 17 goals in his last 20 appearances for the national side.
William Kvist has been ruled out of the remaining games with a broken rib while Yussuf Poulsen is suspended following his second yellow card of the tournament in the previous game, with Middlesbrough’s Martin Braithwaite expected to replace him.
France
France have yet to hit their stride so far in the global showpiece, but they’ve picked up important victories over Australia and Peru to seal their progress. Les Bleus will be keen to claim top spot of Group C and avoid facing high-flyers Croatia in the Last 16, with the Blazers favourites to top Group D. Deschamps’ men need only draw to top their group for a more favourable meeting with likely second-place finishers in Group D, Argentina or Nigeria.
Les Bleus are expected to be without Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti due to a knee injury, with Paris Saint-Germain’s young centre-back Presnel Kimpembe in line to take his spot. Apart from that forced change, Deschamps could opt to rest some of his key players before the Last 16 gets underway next week. France will, of course, want to clinch top spot, but may feel they can do so while starting some of their fringe talent such as Florian Thauvin, Nabil Fekir and Thomas Lemar.
Deschamps will want to keep Olivier Giroud in his starting line-up. The Chelsea striker impressed against Peru last time out and he’s scored each of France’s last three goals against the Danes, most recently a brace in a 2-1 victory in October 2015.
With nothing but pride and first place to play for, we could either see France take their foot off the gas, or run riot with the pressure of qualification already lifted.
Verdict: Draw (31/20)
France are favourites to win this clash, but with Deschamps expected to rest a couple of his key men, they might find it very tough. The desire for both teams not to lose could well eclipse the will to win and result in a share of the spoils.
