Group D is a group which holds many talented footballers, with France holding many of them talents. France, the reigning World Cup champions, are favourites in a group with Denmark, Tunisia and Australia. France have an elite side with Mbappe leading the line. After a recent poor Nations League performance, France are looking to make up for their Euro 2020 exit with another World Cup trophy to their collection. However, France are missing key players from their World Cup success in Russia, with the midfield duo Paul Pogba and N’golo Kante missing the tournament due to injury. Nkunku and Benzema have both recently been reported injured as well with both players expected to miss the tournament. Benzema, the Ballon d’Or winner, returned to the French national team for the Nations League after not being included from 2016-2021 where he missed the triumph in Russia.
The team that are tipped to beat France to top spot are the Danes. Denmark qualified for the World Cup with ease topping the group with 27 points out of a possible 30 only conceding 3 goals in 10 games. Denmark have also beaten France in their Nations League fixture back in June and beating them to second place in the group finishing 7 points above Les Bleus. Denmark have a lot riding on them in the 2022 Qatar World Cup after their Euro 2020 run where they reached the semi-finals. Denmark still have the core to their 2020 Euro success with Eriksen returning to this winter's tournament.
Tunisia are making their sixth World Cup appearance in Qatar and are hoping to change history by making it out the group for the first time ever, but with France and Demark in their group its looking like an unlikely task for the Eagles of Carthage. Tunisia have only ever won two World Cup games which was their first ever game in the competition and their last game, which was in the 2018 World Cup with a 2-1 win over Panama. Tunisia qualified for this World Cup by topping their CAF World Cup qualifying group winning 4 out of 6 of their games. Then then played Mali in qualifiers where they won 1-0 over two legs with Mali defender Moussa Sissoko scoring an own goal and being sent off in the first half of the first leg. Tunisia have only lost one of their last five games, which was to the favourites Brazil. Tunisia are not expecting to shock the world but with World Cup magic expect anything from the African side when they face Denmark for their opening game on Tuesday.
The last team to feature in Group D is Australia. Australia are not facing any unfamiliar competition in their group compared to the Russia World Cup in 2018. The Socceroo's faced France and Denmark in the group back then, where they lost to France and drew to Denmark crashing out the group. This time around they will be hoping history doesn't repeat itself and they can cause a major upset. Australia are competing in their fifth consecutive World Cup with their best performance being in Germany 2006, losing to a last-minute penalty against the Italians, who went on to win the World Cup themselves. Australia qualified for Qatar 2022 with a clutch penalty shootout won by Andrew Redmayne against Peru.
Overall, this group seems easily predictable with France and Denmark advancing but with the magic of the World Cup anything can happen. Tunisia and Australia will look the upset the big nations and become heroes for their country. As a football fan I would keep a close eye on this group from world class players like Mbappe and Eriksen, to the two underdog nations looking to use passion and teamwork to advance through the knockouts. Expect the Unexpected.
Who will finish top of the group?
France
Denmark
Tunisia
Australia
By Baily Shorter
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