World Cup 2018 Group C Preview and Predictions
This group is all about which team will finish second to one of the tournament favourites France. At a glance you have to think the Danes should take this mantle but with Peru riding on a wave of emotion after qualifying for their first finals since 1982, calling this one could be a little tricky.
All eyes will be on third favourites France to see if they can repeat their 1998 win and go one better than they did in Euro 2016 when they lost in the final to Portugal.
France are expected to finish top of the group, while the Danes look a good proposition to finish second, although never rule out a major tournament upset which Peru is more than capable in doing.
France
France are blessed with quality and talent and in coach Didier Deschamps they have a man that will be chasing his own slice of footballing history by becoming just the third person after Franz Beckenbauer and Mario Zagallo to win the World Cup as a player and manager.
The French registered 7 wins, 2 draws and just the 1 loss in qualification and while one can argue that they never quite hit top gear during this time, they did showcase their ability to churn out the results when required.
Their midfield engine room of N’Golo Kante, Blaise Matuidi and Paul Pogba are equally adept in defence and attack and in Euro 2016 top scorer Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe they have an abundance of talent up front. Griezmann in particular showing great form after his brace secured Atletico Madrid the Europa League title.
The fact that players of the clibre of Alexandre Lacazette, Anthony Martial and Dimitri Payet did not even make the squad, underlines the wealth of talent available to Deschamps.
France open up their campaign against Australia and while they shouldn’t have any problems, the watching world will be more interested in the manner of their performances in the group stages.
France World Cup Squad
Goalkeepers: Alphone Areola (Paris St Germain), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Steve Mandanda (Olympique de Marseille).
Defenders: Lucas Hernandez (Atletico Madrid), Presnel Kimpembe (Paris St Germain), Benjamin Pavard (VfB Stuttgart), Benjamin Mendy (Manchester City), Djibril Sidibe (Monaco), Adil Rami (Olympique de Marseille), Samuel Umtiti (Barcelona), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid).
Midfielders: Blaise Matuidi (Juventus), N’Golo Kante (Chelsea), Steven N’Zonzi (Sevilla), Paul Pogba (Manchester United), Corentin Tolisso (Bayern Munich).
Forwards: Olivier Giroud (Chelsea), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Kylian Mbappe (Paris St Germain), Thomas Lemar (Monaco), Nabil Fekir (Olympique Lyonnais), Florian Thauvin (Olympique de Marseille), Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona)
Denmark
This is the most balanced side Denmark have had since 1998 when they reached the quarterfinals. They also have the distinction of being crowned European Champions in 1992, although perhaps getting out of the group stages is the best they can hope for.
Attacking midfielder Christian Eriksen was nothing short of sensational during qualification, scoring 11 goals, which included the hat-trick against the Republic of Ireland.
The attacking midfielder is also very much on the numbers when it comes to assists, although he plays a more attacking role for his country than he does with Tottenham, hence his higher goal scoring count.
Kasper Schmeichel, the son of former United stopper and 1992 European Champion Peter, is a quality keeper. Nicklas Bendtner the Marmite man, one you either love or hate, unfortunately misses out due to injury.
Their opening game against Peru is a tricky one with their defence knowing a single moment of South American brilliance can dent their qualification chances. That said you just feel the Danes will be well organized at the back and tough to breakdown, with goals always a possibility when you have Eriksen.
Denmark World Cup Squad
Goalkeepers: Frederik Ronnow (Brondby), Jonas Lossl (Huddersfield), Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester).
Defenders: Andreas Christensen (Chelsea), Henrik Dalsgaard (Brentford), Jannik Vestergaard (Borussia Monchengladbach), Jens Stryger Larsen (Udinese), Jonas Knudsen (Ipswich), Mathias Jorgensen (Huddersfield), Simon Kjaer (Sevilla).
Midfielders: Christian Eriksen (Tottenham), Lasse Schone (Ajax), Lukas Lerager (Bordeaux), Michael Krohn-Dehli (Deportivo La Coruna), Thomas Delaney (Werder Bremen), Willian Kvist (FC Copenhagen).
Forwards: Andreas Cornelius (Atalanta), Kasper Dolberg (Ajax), Martin Braithwaite (Bordeaux), Nicolai Jorgensen (Feyenoord), Pione Sisto (Celta Vigo), Viktor Fischer (FC Copenhagen), Yussuf Yurary Poulsen (RB Leipzig).
Peru
This will be Peru’s 5th World Cup but first since 1982, a remarkable achievement when you consider they have kept out the likes of Chile. The mood of the nation has never been higher after they secured the final World Cup sport with a win over New Zealand, and the passionate support will unquestionably serve as an extra man in all three of their group stage matches.
Peru striker Paolo Guerrero has somehow managed to get a tribunal court in Switzerland to halt a 14 month drug suspension for the World Cup. His experience will be crucial for the South American team.
Peru will bring plenty of goal scoring flair as seen in their 29 goals in 19 qualification games, however one major worry is the 26 they conceded during this time! France, Denmark and Australia will know that they are always in the game against a frail defensive unit.
Peru World Cup Squad
Goalkeepers: Gallese (Veracruz-MEX), Carlos Caceda (Veracruz-MEX) and Jose Carvallo (UTC).
Defenders: Aldo Corzo (Universitario), Luis Advincula (Lobos BUAP-Mexico), Miguel Araujo (Alianza Lima), Alberto Rodriguez (Junior-Colombia), Christian Ramos (Veracruz-Mexico), Anderson Santamaria (Puebla-Mexico), Luis Abram (Velez Sarsfield-Argentina) and Miguel Trauco (Flamengo-Brazil).
Midfielders: Renato Tapia (Feyenoord), Pedro Aquino (Lobos BUAP), Yoshimar Yotun (Orlando City), Sergio Pena (Granadan), Edison Flores (Aalborgk), Paolo Hurtado (Vitoria de Guimaraes), Wilder Cartagena (Veracruz), Nilson Loyola (Melgar), Christian Cueva (Sao Paulo), Andre Carrillo (Watford).
Forwards: Jefferson Farfan (Lokomotiv), Andy Polo (Portland Timbers), Raul Ruidiaz (Morelia).
Australia
If this was the cricket or rugby World Cup we would be talking about which teams would be able to stop them from going all the way, however this is the football World Cup and one expects them to finish bottom of Group C.
Australia secured a play-off win over the Honduras in qualification for Russia, however in 4 previous World Cup’s they have managed just 2 wins. I simply can’t see them adding to this and perhaps the fans will be more focused on their national team playing in the 2019 Cricket World Cup.
Huddersfield’s Aaron Mooy is a decent midfield player and in Tim Cahill at 38 they have an aging impact player. Outside of that they don’t really have any quality players in the top divisions.
Australia World Cup Provisional Squad
Goalkeepers: Mat Ryan (Brighton), Danny Vukovic (Genk), Brad Jones (Feyenoord)
Defenders: Aziz Behich (Bursaspor), Milos Degenek (Yokohama F. Marinos), Matthew Jurman (Suwon Bluewings), James Meredith (Millwall), Josh Risdon (Western Sydney), Trent Sainsbury (Grasshoppers Zurich)
Midfielders: Mile Jedinak (Aston Villa), Jackson Irvine (Hull), Robbie Kruse (Bochum), Massimo Luongo (Queens Park Rangers), Mark Milligan (Al Ahli), Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield), Tom Rogic (Celtic)
Forwards: Tim Cahill (Millwall), Tomi Juric (FC Luzern), Matthew Leckie (Hertha Berlin), Andrew Nabbout (Urawa Red Diamonds), Dimitri Petratos (Newcastle Jets), Daniel Arzani (Melbourne City), Jamie Maclaren (Hibernian)
SPORTSvox World Cup Group C Predictions
All the attention will be on France and their early tournament performances. Deschamps will want his team to make an impression on some of the other big guns, most notably Argentina who they could face in the next round. Australia are expected to finish last and while many will be hoping Peru will sneak through, Denmark should be too organized for the South Americans and will most likely qualify second.
World Cup 2018 Fixtures, Group C
SATURDAY 16TH JUNE
France v Australia
Kazan Arena, Kazan
SATURDAY 16TH JUNE
Peru v Denmark
Mordovia Arena, Saransk
THURSDAY 21ST JUNE
Denmark v Australia
Samara Arena, Samara
THURSDAY 21ST JUNE
France v Peru
Central Stadium, Yekaterinburg
TUESDAY 26TH JUNE
Australia v Peru
Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi
TUESDAY 26TH JUNE
Denmark v France
Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow
