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France v Denmark – World Cup: Team news, possible lineups & prediction.
When the defending world champions France resumes Group D responsibilities against Denmark at Stadium 974 on Saturday night, they can guarantee a spot in the final rounds of the 2022 World Cup.
The French national team, led by Didier Deschamps, overcame a deficit against Australia on Tuesday night to begin their championship defence with a resounding victory.
For the second tournament in a row, Denmark was held to the first 0-0 draw of the World Cup. While Tunisia took a share of the spoils earlier in the week, France was on the other side of the stalemate in 2018.
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Team News:
Before Deschamps selected his team, after Deschamps selected his squad, and again during their World Cup journey, France have been beset by injuries. On Tuesday, left-back Lucas Hernandez tore his anterior cruciate ligament during the buildup to Australia’s goal by Goodwin.
The Bayern Munich player will not be participating in the remainder of the World Cup as he prepares for months of recovery. Instead, he will hand the ball to his brother Theo Hernandez, who performed admirably after taking over for his injured cousin.
Due to a hip injury, Deschamps was also without Kingsley Coman in Friday’s training session, but Raphael Varane was deemed healthy enough to play against the Socceroos in lieu of Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konate at the back.
Upamecano and Konate won’t feel as though they deserved to lose their positions, but a fully healthy Varane will undoubtedly be given consideration, and the unfortunate Liverpool player may be the one to withdraw.
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Similar circumstances to Hernandez’s have befallen Denmark, as Sevilla midfielder Thomas Delaney, who was substituted against Tunisia at halftime due to a knee injury, has also been forced to withdraw from the competition in order to rehabilitate for a month.
Other than Delaney’s injury, Hjulmand has no new worries heading into Saturday’s game. As a result, he should think about moving Eriksen and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg into a deeper role, which would free up either Mikkel Damsgaard or Jesper Lindstrom to join the attack.
The 29-year-old Andreas Cornelius should only be considered for a substitute role here alongside the injured Yussuf Poulsen after producing one of the worst misses in World Cup history against Tunisia when he miraculously hit the post from a yard out.
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Possible Lineup:
France’s possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Pavard, Varane, Upamecano, T. Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe; Giroud
Denmark’s possible starting lineup:
Schmeichel; Andersen, Christensen, Kjaer; Kristensen, Hojbjerg, Eriksen, Maehle; Skov Olsen, Dolberg, Damsgaard
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Score prediction:
Denmark ought to be the overwhelming favourite to defeat a team they vanquished in Copenhagen and Paris based only on the results of this year’s Nations League. However, focusing only on their two most recent meetings would be misleadingly partial.
In the group game, the defending champions are the favourites, especially if they can duplicate the electrifying swagger of their second half against Australia.
Kasper Hjulmand, the manager of Denmark, is juggling more important choices than his preferred defensive alignment.
Any outcome against France will leave those competing interests in place.
Prediction: France 2-1 Denmark