(Football news) Australia and Denmark are set to face each other at the Al Janoub Stadium, with France already through from Group D, this has become a winner-takes-all encounter. Australia going into this match have the upper hand after their win over Tunisia as a win for Denmark is a must to qualify for the knockout stages moving them into second with four points. Last match was just Australia’s third-ever World Cup win, and their first since 2010 when they beat Serbia in South Africa. Despite that win in 2010 it was not enough to take them through to the next round even after collecting four points, and Australian fans hope that history doesn’t repeat itself.
Their form in World Cups against European sides is a cause for concern as they have lost eight of their 11 meetings but they did miraculously manage a 1-1 draw with Denmark in Russia four years ago. In five finals appearances, they have made the knockout stages just once in 2006. Australia took the lead against both France and Tunisia inside the first quarter of the game and it was the first time they have ever led at half-time in a World Cup match. A first clean sheet since 1974 at the World Cup was the most pleasing thing for the side. It would be an incredible achievement for the Socceroos to go through to the next round considering they needed to win two playoffs to make it to Qatar.
In contrast, Denmark were the most dominant team during qualification, winning their opening nine qualifying matches with eight clean sheets, but now they face the very real prospect of early elimination. No side picked up more points in the UEFA qualification than Kasper Hjulmand’s side, but a repeat of their result against the Scoreroos in 2018 will surely send them home. They are usually slow starters in major tournaments as they can take inspiration from the fact that they lost both their opening two games of Euro 2020 but still managed to make the semi-finals.
Their form at the World Cup also gives cause for optimism, because unlike Australia, they have gone onto to the knockout stages in four of their five major tournament appearances. But in order to qualify they must end a five game winless run at the World Cup as the defeat to France last time out ended their run of four successive draws. Facing Les Bleus on the biggest stage was just too much for the Danes; they fell to a defeat despite beating Didier Deschamps’ side twice in the UEFA Nations League this year. Many regarded Denmark as the dark horses for this year’s World Cup but their performance over the last two games have been very disappointing, they need to find their mojo in order to make it to the next round.
Australia possible starting lineup:
Ryan; Karacic, Souttar, Rowles, Behich; Leckie, Irvine, Mooy, McGree, Goodwin; Duke
Denmark possible starting lineup:
Schmeichel; Andersen, Kjaer, Christensen; Kristensen, Hojbjerg, Eriksen, Maehle; Skov Olsen, Dolberg, Damsgaard
Also read: 2022 World Cup: Netherlands and Senegal progress into the Round of 16
