France and Denmark helped each other to a goalless draw. (Source: Reuters)
France, who were touted to be the title favourites before the start of the World Cup, have not been able to set the stage in Russia on fire. They are through to the Round of 16 but have done little to justify the star names they have in their side. Didier Deschamps has decided to give a number of players a run-out and benched a number of key players including Paul Pogba, Hugo Lloris and Kylian Mbappe. Catch Live scores and updates as Denmark take on France in World Cup in Russia. Australia vs Peru Highlights
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Denmark take on France. (Source: Reuters)
France win Group C, Denmark finish second behind them. This is the first goalless draw of the 2018 World Cup. The two teams have brought this group to a grinding halt and they would do well to avoid the paying public who came to the stadium to watch this nonsense. But, it has to be said that they didn't really need to exert themselves. They can now prepare for what will be some very tough opponents coming from Group D in their Round of 16 matches.
Three minutes of added time. THREE MINUTES. It is hard to notice fouls and free kick when the entire match becomes a waste of time.
Denmark still have the ball and it is passed back to Kasper Schmeichel. Why does this stinker have to go on any longer?
Oh, look a shot! More of an eyesore but a shot nonetheless. Giroud receives the ball at the edge of the box with his back to goal, lofts it up to chest level and wheels around in an attempt for a blinder of a goal. It instead flies high above the cross-bar. But it is a shot, the players are showing that they remember there is something called a goal that they can put the ball into.
Pass, pass, pass, nothing. That is all that has been happening since the past 20 minutes at least. Denmark passing the ball about and France not making too much of an attempt to take it back. The crowd is cheering the passes. Kylian Mbappe comes on for Mendy.
A bit of pointless French passing around and it comes to Fekir. He looks at goal and goes for it straightaway from around 25 yards out, it hits the side netting. That was a little booster for the mood.
France finally get into attacking mode as Mendy sends a cross in from the right, Giroud unable to get to it while Griezmann loses his balance and goes down in the box. That was the Atletico man's last act, he is replaced by Nebil Fekir.
Denmark keeping the ball in the French third now but there is really is not much they are able to do make leeway. Both sides have been at their unimaginative best in this second half.
Sisto builds it up and passes it to Eriksen whose shot from the D is just wide. After that, there is a lot of incomprehensible plonking about in the midfield area that really isn't worth mentioning.
Denmark win a free kick, Eriksen takes it around 25 yards away from goal. It is low and on target and straight at the keeper but Mandanda spills it for a brief, chilling second. He gets it back in control before any Danish legs can get to it.
Denmark kick off the second half. France get their first sight at goal when Kante's ball over the top by Giroud. He goes down and seeks a penalty but the referee penalises him for pulling the defender's shirt.
Goalless at half time but not for a lack of trying. France have had more of the ball but they haven't necessarily looked the better side. Anyhow, as long as Australia are losing at the Fisht, the only thing riding on this match is the top spot in Group C.
Denmark corner cleared and Griezmann bursts through and runs all the way to within 25 yards of the Danish goal. He wins a free kick there and it looks like there might be time to take it but no, the referee blows the whistle.
Griezmann sets up Giroud for a shot from outside the box but it goes wide.
Giroud's lofted pass over the top towards Griezmann inside the box. The Atletico man takes a tumble but that is due to him losing his balance and the danger is cleared.
Dembele with a shot from the right flank at the far post that forces Schmeichel to make a dive. The Denmark keeper cannot get a hand to it but it is also wide of the post. Not too high on quality, this match. Both sides have struggled to get more than two passes in the opposition's final third.
Denmark away after some poor judgment from Lucas Hernandez plays in Christian Eriksen, Mandanda rushes out and nicks the ball away from him and it runs lose in the box for a little more than a chilling second for France before it is cleared out.
Lemar curls it dangerously behind but it is the Denmark centre-back Simon Kjaer who manages to knock it out. Corner swung in, Giroud tries to get a head to it but it is cleared and in the process of coming down he seems to have accidentaly landed an elbow flush on Kjaer's head. That must have hurt.
Denmark corner, Eriksen takes and Raphael Varane heads it clear. It does come to a Danish shirt but France clear it anyway. France then enter the Denmark third, Dembele drops a shoulder and passes it to Hernandez in space. But that space is closed out and after a bit of dilly-dallying France win a free kick. Lemar to take.....
Over at Fisht, Peru have scored against Australia. If the score remains this way in both matches, Denmark are through. Denmark, of course, would have the added advantage of winning the group if they in this match and possibly
not face the mighty Croatiaget a favourable draw in the Round of 16.Corner swung in and Giroud meets it with the head, it goes wide. Replays show that Dalsgaard had managed to get a touch on the ball, although he did catch Hernandez before doing that.
It is France all the way now and Denmark are struggling to get out of their own half. France get in when Hernandez and Giroud play a one-two down at the right flank and the latter goes for goal but the shot is over the bar. Hernandez goes down to a challenge from Dalsgaard inside the box but the ref says no penalty.
Kante with a cross that was surely intended for Giroud but it ended up in the hands of his former Leicester City teammate Kasper Schmeichel. Giroud had absolutely no chance to get to it.
Denmark have got off to a more assertive start. France did get close but that move fizzed out when right-back Djibril Sidibe made a proper mess of a cross that went nowhere.
As it stands Denmark and France are both through but if Australia beat Peru and the Danes lose their match here and their goal difference goes below that of the Aussies, Denmark will lose their place in the Round of 16. Get it? No? Check out our points table. That might help.
The instrumental to Seven Nation Army blaring at the Luzhniki Stadium as the two teams walk out. France have made no less than SIX changes to the squad that played Peru. Raphael Varane wears the arm-band in place of goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. Steve Mandanda takes Lloris' place between the sticks.
Where do the two stands in their groups and what do they need to do to qualify for the next round? Here is the FIFA World Cup 2018 Points Table
Denmark Starting XI: Schmeichel, Kjaer, Christensen, Jorgensen, Dalsgaard, Stryger, Delaney, Eriksen, Braithwaite, Cornelius, Sisto.
France Starting XI: Mandanda, Sidibe, Varane, Kimpembe, Hernandez, Kante, N'Zonzi, Dembele, Griezmann, Lemar, Giroud.
France defender Corentin Tolisso believes his team wants to top Group C'
For France, the key man is likely to be Olivier Giroud. He was impressive in the little time he got on the field against Australia, and posed major threat against Peru. For Denmark, Christian Eriksen is likely to be the danger man. He has been absolutely in the form of his life at the moment. He controls the midfield and has the ability to score goals from distance.
On the other end, it will be Peru who will be facing Australia tonight. CLICK FOR LIVE UPDATES
The Celta Vigo mainstay Pione Sisto is one of the few players in the Denmark senior team who have started every match since October 2016. But he isn’t the only African-origin star in the Danish ranks going into their all-important clash against France in Moscow on Tuesday. When Pione Sisto was picked for the Denmark junior team four years ago, his parents were understandably very excited. And they wanted to show their son just how much. So, when he addressed the Danish media a day later to announce his selection, Mr and Mrs Sisto decided to gate-crash the press conference in rather dramatic fashion.
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On this day, Denmark created a history in football.
Denmark will face France in their final group stage match. Denmark drew their last encounter against Australia after winning their first match against Peru. They need a win to confirm a spot in Round of 16. A draw or loss will make them dependent on Australia losing or drawing against Peru tonight. France will be hoping to continue winning run. They have already qualified to the Round of 16, but have failed to demonstrate their full weight. A win over Denmark will silence the critics.