Denmark finally qualified for World Cup 2018 in style as they defeated the Republic of Ireland 5-1 in Dublin, in the play Off though their progress to Russia was always balanced on a tightrope.
Australia had missed out on automatic qualification for finals after finishing behind Asian Football Confederation rivals Japan and Saudi Arabia, and so went into a regional playoff where they ended Syria's hopes of advancing further towards Russia. In 2006, France finished as runners-up losing 5–3 on penalties to Italy. The team has also finished in third place on two occasions in 1958 and 1986 and in fourth place once in 1982.
DENMARK TO ENJOY ITS FIFTH APPEARANCE AT WORLD CUP 🤗
Team: Denmark
Current FIFA Ranking: 12
Previous World Cup appearances: 4 - 1986, 1998, 2002, 2010
Best World Cup result: Quarter-finals - 1998
GROUP FIXTURES:
June 16 vs Peru
June 21 vs Australia
June 26 vs France
Captain: Simon Kjaer
Star Player: Christian Eriksen
Head Coach: Age Hareide
Preferred formation: 4-2-3-1
QUALIFICATION ROUTE:
Denmark finally qualified for World Cup 2018 in style as they defeated the Republic of Ireland 5-1 in Dublin, in the play Off though their progress to Russia was always balanced on a tightrope.
PAST PERFORMANCES:
The first time Denmark entered the tournament was for the 1958 edition in Sweden. However, they lost all four of their qualifying matches to England and the Republic of Ireland.
They qualified for the first time in 1986, where they won all three of their Group Stage matches including a 2-0 against title contenders West Germany, but were eliminated by Spain in the next round. Since then, the Danish national team has regularly qualified for FIFA World Cup Finals and will make their fifth appearance in Russia. Their best performance was in 1998, where they reached the quarter finals.
They are a side with a strong spine, led by captain Simon Kjaer, but they are certainly not without their quality in attack, where Tottenham playmaker Christian Eriksen will be the man pulling the strings.
THE SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Kasper Schmeichel, Jonas Lossl, Frederik Ronow
Defenders: Simon Kjaer, Andreas Christensen, Mathias Jorgensen, Jannik Vestergaard, Henrik Dalsgaard, Jens Stryger, Jonas Knudsen
Midfielders: William Kvist, Thomas Delaney, Lukas Lerager, Lasse Schone, Christian Eriksen, Michael Krohn-Dehli
Forwards: Pione Sisto, Martin Braithwaite, Andreas Cornelius, Viktor Fischer, Yussuf Poulsen, Nicolai Jorgensen, Kasper Dolberg
PERU IS BACK AFTER THE LONG 36 YEAR WAIT
Team: Peru
Current FIFA Ranking: 11
Previous World Cup appearances: 4 - 1930, 1970, 1978, 1982
Best World Cup result: Quarter-finals - 1970
GROUP FIXTURES:
June 16 vs Denmark
June 21 vs France
June 26 vs Australia
Captain: Paolo Guerrero
Star Player: Jefferson Farfan
Head coach: Ricardo Gareca
Preferred formation: 4-4-1-1
QUALIFICATION ROUTE:
Peru ended their 36-year FIFA World Cup drought by finishing fifth in the CONMEBOL qualifying round and subsequently defeating New Zealand 2-0 on aggregate in the intercontinental play-off. Farfan set the tone in the 28th minute – his 23rd international strike – unleashing an unstoppable volley straight through All Whites goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic.
Past Performances:
Peru has participated in the World Cup during the first World Cup in 1930 and in every tournament since 1958. Peru has reached the finals five times: in 1930, 1970, 1978, 1982, and 2018. Peru was invited to the first FIFA World Cup in Uruguay in 1930. They lost both of their games and finished 10th out of 13 teams. The team either withdrew or did not enter the next four tournaments, in 1934, 1938, 1950, and 1954. Peru participated but did not qualify in 1958, 1962, or 1966.
Peru had its best result in Mexico 1970, finishing in seventh place. Peru again finished in the top eight at the World Cup in Argentina 1978. They finished first in their group during the first round of the tournament, but were eliminated after losing all their games in the second round. Peru reached the next World Cup finals in Spain 1982, although the team was eliminated in the first round after 2 draws and 1 loss. From 1986 to 2014, Peru did not advance past the CONMEBOL qualifying round.
THE SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Carlos Caceda, Jose Carvallo, Pedro Gallese
Defenders: Alberto Rodriguez, Aldo Corzo, Anderson Santamaria, Miguel Araujo, Miguel Trauco, Christian Ramos, Luis Advincula, Nilson Loyola
Midfielders: Paolo Hurtado, Christian Cueva, Renato Tapia, Wilder Cartagena, Yoshimar Yotun, Pedro Aquino
Forwards: Paolo Guerrero, Jefferson Farfan, Raul Ruidiaz, Andy Polo, Andre Carrillo, Edison Flores
AUSTRALIA HEAR THE WORLD CUP CLOCK TICKING
Team: Australia
Current FIFA Ranking: 36
Previous World Cup appearances: 4 - 1974, 2006, 2010, 2014
Best World Cup result: Last 16 - 2006
GROUP FIXTURES:
June 16 vs France
June 21 vs Denmark
June 26 vs Peru
Captain: Mile Jedinak
Star Player: Tom Rogic
Head coach: Bert van Marwijk
Preferred Formation: 4-4-1-1
QUALIFICATION ROUTE:
Australia had missed out on automatic qualification for finals after finishing behind Asian Football Confederation rivals Japan and Saudi Arabia, and so went into a regional playoff where they ended Syria's hopes of advancing further towards Russia. Australia defeated Honduras 3-1 in the second leg of their intercontinental playoff to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Captain Mile Jedinak scored a half hat-trick to give the Socceroos a 3-1 aggregate victory after the first leg finished goalless.
PAST PERFORMANCES:
Socceroos have played at the FIFA World Cup on four occasions: in 1974, 2006, 2010 and 2014.
In Australia's first appearance, representing OFC, a team made up entirely of amateurs secured a scoreless draw against Chile, though eventually departed from the 1974 tournament without a goal to show from their inaugural appearance. Australia made up for lost time at Germany 2006 and qualified for the Round of 16 before narrowly falling to eventual champions Italy. The German theme continued at South Africa 2010 although this time Australia, now representing the AFC, suffered a 4-0 loss against the European giants in a scoreline which ultimately scuppered their progress. Australia was to lose all three games in a tough group at Brazil, 2014.
Although Australia first qualified for the World Cup in 1974, it is only in recent years that they have become regulars at the tournament. Reaching Russia for the competition this summer, though, was something of a trial for the Socceroos. Reaching the second round and thereby equalling their best-ever performance at a finals tournament would have to be considered a significant achievement given they have a tricky group.
THE SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Brad Jones, Mat Ryan, Danny Vukovic
Defenders: Aziz Behich, Milos Degenek, Matthew Jurman, James Meredith, Josh Risdon, Trent Sainsbury
Midfielders: Jackson Irvine, Mile Jedinak, Robbie Kruse, Massimo Luongo, Mark Milligan, Aaron Mooy, Tom Rogic
Forwards: Daniel Arzani, Tim Cahill, Tomi Juric, Mathew Leckie, Andrew Nabbout, Dimitri Petratos, Jamie Maclaren
FRANCE EXPECTS VICTORY
Team: France
Current FIFA Ranking: 7
Previous World Cup appearances: 14 - 1930, 1934, 1938, 1954, 1958, 1966, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014
Best World Cup result: Winners - 1998
GROUP FIXTURES:
June 16 vs Australia
June 21 vs Peru
June 26 vs Denmark
Captain: Hugo Lloris
Star Player: Antoine Griezmann
Head coach: Didier Deschamps
Preferred Formation: 4-3-3
QUALIFICATION ROUTE:
The talented French national team experienced no trouble in qualifying for the World Cup in Russia topping their European qualifying group with 23 points in 10 matches. France conceded only six goals in the qualifying group stage and scored 18 times. Chelsea's Olivier Giroud and Atletico Madrid's Griezmann both scored four goals each.
PAST PERFORMANCES:
This is a record of France's results at the FIFA World Cup. France was one of the four European teams that participated at the inaugural World Cup in 1930 and have appeared in 14 FIFA World Cups, tied for the sixth most of any country. The national team is one of eight national teams to have won at least one FIFA World Cup title.
The French team won its first and only World Cup title in 1998. The tournament was played on home soil and France defeated Brazil, 3–0 in the final match. The tournament was hosted in France once before in, 1938, where France was eliminated by defending champions Italy in the quarterfinals.
In 2006, France finished as runners-up losing 5–3 on penalties to Italy. The team has also finished in third place on two occasions in 1958 and 1986 and in fourth place once in 1982.
They travel to Russia with a squad as deep as any in the competition, but with question marks hanging over their mentality despite world-class talent including Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann.
THE SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola, Hugo Lloris, Steve Mandanda
Defenders: Lucas Hernandez, Presnel Kimpembe, Benjamin Mendy, Benjamin Pavard, Adil Rami, Djibril Sidibe, Samuel Umtiti, Raphael Varane
Midfielders: N'Golo Kante, Blaise Matuidi, Steven N'Zonzi, Paul Pogba, Corentin Tolisso,
Forwards: Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann, Thomas Lemar, Kylian Mbappe, Florian Thauvin, Ousmane Dembele, Nabil Fekir
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