2022 FIFA World Cup - Group D Preview
The matches in Group D will be fraught with drama and excitement on and off the pitch. France enters the competition as the World Champions and is looking to become the first country to retain the World Cup since Brazil in 1962.
While France may be the undisputed favorite of this particular group, we could witness a Danish fairytale with Christian Eriksen back on the field in a major competition after suffering a cardiac arrest last summer at the Euros. Not forgetting the underdogs Australia having something to prove; plus Tunisia and its passionate fans who are well known for showing their love for the team both home and away.
France
Didier Deschamps continues his journey as Les Bleus’ head coach. It’s his tenth year with the French national team and the 53-year-old will try to bounce back from a disappointing UEFA Euro 2020 run that ended in the Round of 16, losing to Switzerland in penalties.
Needless to say, it’s worth noting that Deschamps will have a better and more mature Kylian Mbappe in his squad. The 23-year-old is on course to becoming the nation’s all-time leading goal scorer, overtaking Thierry Henry in the process. The Paris Saint-Germain forward already has a World Cup trophy in his portfolio on top of 54 caps.
A stacked lineup with stars like Hugo Lloris, Antoine Griezmann, Karem Benzema and Benjamin Pavard means the core team remains relatively untouched since their 2018 victory. This should fare well for the two-time World Cup winners and two-time European champions.
Denmark
These modern-day Vikings have shown that they have what it takes to thrive under difficult conditions on multiple occasions, like the Euro Cup 2021. They may not be one of the favorites to win the World Cup, but they have a squad that’s a mix of youth and experience, prepared to take on anyone.
Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, players like Andreas Christensen, Christian Eriksen, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, and Kasper Dolberg will give their all to succeed with their national team.
Denmark has matched up against France 5 times so far, 3 of which were losses, 1 was a draw, and there was only 1 win. Against Australia, the Danes have a winning record, while they have never played against Tunisia.
Tunisia
The North African nation of Tunisia is yet to find its way past the group stage in five World Cup appearances. We expect this one to be tougher than ever as they take on 2018 champions France. However, the crowd might swing to the underdogs with a large local community of Tunisians in Doha and thousands set to make the trip to Qatar. The Eagles of Carthage have experience playing in Qatar and even reached the semi-finals of the Arab Cup last year.
It’s a different story for their World Cup endeavors. There’s a lot to be desired for head coach Jalel Kadri and his squad. It’s been a while since they won their first World Cup match in 1978, and it took four decades to get their next win in the tournament when they beat Panama in Russia in 2018. Nonetheless, the uncertainties of the international competition make Tunisia a great sleeper pick.
Australia
The Australia men’s national soccer team makes its sixth World Cup admittance since first appearing in 1974. The Socceroos are expected to have a tough time against European powerhouse teams France and Denmark. They trail Tunisia on paper and are major underdogs in Group D. However, it’s difficult to overlook a team that can produce surprising results.
Team captain Matthew Ryan and head coach Graham Arnold have high hopes for the side. Having a relatively youthful pool of players means fresh energy for the team. There are several Bundesliga, Premier League, and A-League players in the lineup, which provides a nice diverse selection. Ultimately, Australia will hope to upset the two favorites and snatch a strong victory over Tunisia.
Prediction:
Despite their recent form and the poor tournament outing at the last Euros, France still is a favorite to top the group, but the three other teams will definitely have a say in the final results.
Some people consider powerhouse France to be vulnerable due to the players’ poor performance at the Euro Cup in 2021. However, as far as the World Cup 2022 group predictions go, there is a clear favorite for the second group position, just like there is one for the first. The runner-up favorite is, without a doubt, Denmark. The Danish will enter the tournament with a winning record and the desire to at least repeat their success in the 2021 Euro Cup.
On the other hand, Australia and Tunisia won’t go down silently. The Socceroos boast a winning record that results from their team spirit and grit under pressure. Also, the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia enjoys the ability to perform without any form of pressure due to its somewhat underdog status.