Menu

France vs Denmark, Peru vs Australia Match Reviews: France and Denmark play safe, progress to 2nd round Updated for November 2024

France vs Denmark, Peru vs Australia Match Reviews: France and Denmark play safe, progress to 2nd round 1

Updated: 5th November 2024

World Cup 2018 Results: 

France 0, Denmark 0

Peru 2, Australia 0

France vs Denmark Match Review

Russia 2018 saw its first goalless draw at the Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, with France and Denmark going through the motions and eventually holding onto their 1st and 2nd spots in the Group C cluster. This took care of any situation where Australia registered a win over Peru and the Danes lost.

But then, this didn't happen in both scenarios and a dull, lackluster contest ensued as a result.

The news filtering in at half-time that the Peruvians were ahead didn't help matters either.

France despite having won two of their previous games haven't found their rhythm yet and Didier Deschamp's decision to go with six changes for the clash against Denmark meant that he was complacent with his side topping Group C and progressing to the next round.

The only spark from the Les Blues came when Antoine Griezmann attempted the game's first shot on target in the 39th minute, a tame shot straight to Danish goal-keeper Kasper Schmeichel.

Nabil Fekir also showed some nice touches when he replaced Griezmann for the last 20 minutes. Right-back Djibril Sidibe's runs up the right flank were also some of the few redeemers in an otherwise dull game.

Denmark's Norwegian coach Age Hareide has drawn criticism for his results-over-flair approach, even when the Danes have gone unbeaten in their last 18 international outings.

The news that Australia were down 0-2 to Peru wasn't enough to make him budge from his defensive mindset.

Instead, the Danes dropped deeper as the second half progressed thus making their intentions clear.

Their first shot on target came when Christian Eriksen drove one straight into goalkeeper Steve Mandanda (in for Hugo Lloris) in the 54th minute that the French custodian spilled.

Eriksen failed to capitalize on the best chance of the match when he was unable to make contact with a low cross from Andreas Cornelius that Mandanda somehow gathered.

Peru vs Australia Match Review

Peru salvaged some of their lost pride by beating Australia 2-0 in their last group game at the Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi.

The Aussies needed to defeat an already-eliminated Peru and hope France beat Denmark in order to reach the knock-out stage, but the South Americans had other plans when Andre Carrillo delivered a low 15-yard volley beating goalkeeper Matt Ryan to go one up in just the 18th minute of play.

Peru captain Paolo Guerrero coming out of a 14-month ban after testing positive for cocaine, doubled the South American's lead in the 50th minute.

A third goal was almost on the way when Christian Cueva hit the post just before the final whistle.

Peru who were playing their first World Cup after 1982 deserved better, making France and Denmark labor in their 1-0 wins and entertaining fans with their attacking flair.

The Australians ended up languishing at the bottom of the Group C table and it's their third consecutive World Cup where they have gone without a win.

In the game against Peru, the only 2 chances that came the Aussie's way were when Mile Jedinak shot over the top early in the encounter and Mathew Leckie's goal-bound attempt from a low Robbie Kruse cross was saved marvelously by center-back Anderson Santamaria.

France being on top of Group C now face Group D runners-up Argentina on the 30th of June in the next round, while Denmark run into cluster D toppers Croatia on July 1st.

Relevant news

Leave a Reply