France set to face Danish bunker

France overcame the champions’ curse through their 4-1 win against Australia in their opening match, and now they are to be tested by Denmark at Stadium 974 in Doha on Saturday.

France had been struggling since their last World Cup as they failed in both the 2020 Euro and 2022 Nations League even with a squad full of superstars.

France coach Didier Deschamps will want to win this match to put a statement as his squad is struggling due to injuries. But they were handed a boost as Raphael Varane is set to return against the Danish.

“He (Varane) was fit for the first game and he’s fit for the second game, we will have to make that decision. The main thing is that he’s fit and ready,” Deschamps said in a press conference on Friday.

Leaving all the negatives behind, Deschamps’ team made a perfect start to their title defence thumping the Socceroos 4-1. France has now won all of their last five matches in the World Cup since 2018 and now looks to match Spain’s six-win streak they put up in the 2010 World Cup. Denmark, on the other hand, drew all four of their last World Cup matches, no other team in the history of the mega event has ever drawn five times in a row.

In Karim Benzema’s absence, French forward Oliver Giroud has the chance to become the nation’s all-time highest goal scorer as he now sits on par with French legend Thierry Henry with 51 goals. His side will look up to him to deliver the goals up in the front.

As Lucas is injured, the role of building up the game from the back will be placed upon his brother Theo Hernandez, who is in fantastic form in Serie A with AC Milan.

Denmark is in a good form compared to their opponents as they have beaten France twice in the UEFA Nations League, and now look to beat them thrice in a calendar year, a feat no other nation could achieve in history.

“It’s an important game for us after the start we had. They’re opponents who belong at the very top of world football, they’re the reigning champions,” Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand said on Friday.

“The quality and talent they have in France at the moment are spectacular. I have great respect for them but we also know how strong we are.”

Denmark also have injury problems as Sevilla midfielder Thomas Delaney was ruled out of the World Cup due to a knee injury.

The two nations have faced each other 16 times, France won eight of them while Denmark won six times.