France face biggest group stage challenge against a solid Denmark
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France and Denmark go into their match on Saturday as Group D’s clear favourites for winners and runners-up, respectively. Les Bleus will be full of confidence after smashing Australia 4-1 in their opening match just after Denmark drew against Tunisia – but France will have little cause for complacency after Denmark’s sparkling run over the past year and a half.
Many World Cup trophy-holders seem cursed – as evidenced by France’s 2002 debacle after their celebrated victory in 1998. But Les Bleus gave a clear sign they are bucking the trend with a formidable performance against Australia on Tuesday. It was a performance worthy of champions – and it does not augur well for their Danish opponents on Saturday.
Didier Deschamps’ men dealt coolly with the Socceroos, taking a shock early lead. Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot’s clinical finish put them equal – demonstrating that he is more than capable of matching the versatility and tactical acumen of the injured Paul Pogba. The 36-year-old Olivier Giroud proved beyond any doubt that the AC Milan star is one of the most underrated strikers in the contemporary game with his brace – matching Thierry Henry’s record of 51 goals for Les Bleus while becoming France’s oldest-ever World Cup goalscorer.
Yet the star of the show – the player on whom France will depend more than anybody else – was Kylian Mbappé. The wunderkind who took the footballing world by storm at the 2018 World Cup has only accentuated his gifts alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar at PSG. Mbappé showcased his lacerating pace and sharp creativity against the Aussies – a frequent menace…
