France faces its powerful candidacy to its Danish torment

France faces its powerful candidacy to its Danish torment

The Frenchmen will seek to confirm the round of 16 against a rival that has beaten them in the last two direct confrontations this year

MADRID, 25 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The French team will seek this Saturday (5:00 p.m.) against Denmark to certify their presence in the round of 16 with a victory against their last scourge this year, a team they have not beaten in 2022, although with their status as current champion and offensive capacity as great guarantees, while the Danes will take refuge in their strong block and those precedents to get their first victory in the World Cup in Qatar.

Didier Deschamps's pupils forcefully saved the surprise attempt started by Australia on the first day, driving away, for the moment, the curse that has haunted the champion in the last three editions. The 'bleus' responded in time to Craig Goodwin's first goal, in the same play in which defender Lucas Hernández tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, in a new injury that hit the French team.

However, with his brother Theo in the field, France gained depth and took control of the game to come back and make it 2-1 in the first half hour of play, with goals from Adrien Rabiot and Olivier Giroud, who with a double he equaled Thierry Henry as the all-time top scorer (51) for the 'Gallos'. Earlier, Kylian Mbappé made it 3-1 in a game in which, at half speed, they were far superior to the oceanic.

This Saturday's exam will be very different, in which, in addition to facing a complete Danish team, he will also face the most present ghosts in 2022. And it is that the 'Danish Dynamite' made the French team 'explode' in the League of Nations with two painful defeats (1-2 and 2-0). These results affected a French team that only added one win and had to confirm their category in the competition on the last day.

The latest scores between the two teams in World Cups are not favorable for France either. Denmark scratched a draw (0-0) in the group stage of Russia 2018 and won in the same first round in Korea and Japan 2002. And it is that the 'bleus' have not beaten the Nordics (1-2) since 2015 in a friendly, and their last victory (3-0) in an official match dates from the year 2000 at the European Championship in Belgium and the Netherlands.

The 'Roosters' are leaders of Group D alone, after the draw to zero between the Danes and Tunisians on the first day. This means that with a new victory France is automatically selected for the round of 16. And Deschamps would build a much stronger team to try to neutralize the quality combinations led by Christian Eriksen. In addition, with the more than likely entry of Theo Hernández in the right lane, the coach could further reinforce his model.

Lucas's injury could be the trigger for the return to the system with three center-backs so used by Deschmaps and that he left aside in the debut. Varane, already recovered, would accompany Upamecano and Konaté, with a Pavard that seems fixed on the right. Due to his unique profile in the squad, Aurelien Tchouameni will repeat alongside Rabiot, while in attack he would continue to trust Antoine Griezmann and the improved version of him with the 'Roosters', the cheeky Kylian Mbappé and the record striker Giroud.

Denmark was an innocent team in its World Cup debut in Qatar, unable to go from 0-0 against an inferior Tunisia, which put more enthusiasm and claw. However, with one point in the group, it seems the worst rival for France, due to its solvent arguments to force its rivals to show their best version. In addition to the recent open wounds in the French team as a mirror in which to look.

As in other duels, their assets will go through establishing a tough system, even labyrinthine, although without neglecting the ball. Eriksen's piece is once again key as the hinge in a gear that has versatility in its game as a great ally.

Without major setbacks in his 'eleven' type of coach Kasper Hjulmand, Mikkel Damsgaard aims to start to replace the injured Thomas Delaney, in a formation with three center-backs and two long lanes -Kristensen and Maehle- to dominate in the construction phase.

Whatever the result, the Danes will not confirm their elimination or classification to the next phase, prolonging their options to the third and final day, in which they will face Australia. The oceanic team can be eliminated if they lose to Tunisia, also this Saturday.

FRANCE: Lloris; Pavard, Varane, Upamecano, Konate, Theo Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Griezmann, Mbappé and Giroud.

DENMARK: Schmeichel; Andersen, Christensen, Kjaer; Kristensen, Hojbjerg, Eriksen, Maehle; Daamsgard, Olsen and Dolberg.

--ARBITRO: Szymon Marciniak (POL)

--ESTADIO: Stadium 974.

--TIME: 5:00 p.m./La1, World Goal and Movistar.