After the opening two rounds of fixtures at the 2018 World Cup, it’s time to decide who goes through and who gets eliminated. On Tuesday afternoon, Denmark and France face off as the two qualifying nations from Group C are decided.

STATS

• Denmark will be happy to be sitting in the top two going into the final group game but they face their toughest test yet. In their last game, they couldn’t be separated, drawing 1-1 with Australia after going a goal ahead. This was the Danes’ fourth point following their 1-0 victory against Peru in their opening game.
• Despite winning both of their opening group matches, France’s World Cup performances haven’t been anywhere near what is expected of them so far. A narrow 2-1 victory over Australia followed by a 1-0 win against Peru are both results that have got the job done for Didier Deschamps’ side. That leaves them needing just a draw against Denmark to secure top spot.
• Christian Eriksen scored a fantastic goal to put his country ahead against Australia and assisted the goal that won the game against Peru, he’s Denmark’s danger man.
• France have a wealth of high-quality attacking options in their squad and any one of Paul Pogba, Kylian Mbappe or Antoine Griezmann could provide the spark.

HEAD TO HEAD

As you’d expect, France have been dominant in their fixtures against Denmark six wins from the last seven meetings. However, the one that France lost was the most recent at a World Cup tournament in 2002 where the World Cup holders at the time were knocked out in the groups. The last meeting was a friendly in 2015 where two Olivier Giroud goals helped France to a 2-1 win. There have been over 2.5 goals just once in the last five fixtures between the teams.

DENMARK NEWS

Going into the final group game, Denmark are without William Kvist who has a broken rib and Yussuf Poulsen who is suspended following two bookings.

Latest matches: Denmark

21.06.2018	Worl	Denmark	Australia	1:1	D
16.06.2018	Worl	Peru	Denmark	0:1	W
09.06.2018	Int.	Denmark	Mexico	2:0	W
02.06.2018	Int.	Sweden	Denmark	0:0	D
27.03.2018	Int.	Denmark	Chile	0:0	D

FRANCE NEWS

There are no injury worries for France ahead of this one but there is expected to be rotational changes in order to rest key players. Steve Mandanda should start between the sticks in one of the bigger line-up shocks.

Latest matches: France

21.06.2018	Worl	France	Peru	1:0	W
16.06.2018	Worl	France	Australia	2:1	W
09.06.2018	Int.	France	USA	1:1	D
01.06.2018	Int.	France	Italy	3:1	W
28.05.2018	Int.	France	Ireland	2:0	W

SUMMARY

It’s hard to see past France winning this match but with their lack of firepower so far and the fact that Denmark still have everything on the line, it should be a closer match than expected. Denmark have shown signs of quality and of weakness in their two matches and France have shown the same. A point is enough to see both sides through and that could well be the outcome on Tuesday.