A simplified look at Group C from a historical perspective and the current situation Note: Country's best player Information taken from Wikipedia page. Match Report from several on-line articles France History World Cup Winners: Once (1998) European Cup Winners: Twice (1984, 2000) World Cup Appearances: 14 times 1930: Group stage 1934: First round (Straight knockout format) 1938: Quarter-finals 1950: Withdrew 1954: Group stage 1958: Third 1962: Did not qualify 1966: Group stage 1970: Did not qualify 1974: Did not qualify 1978: Group stage 1982: Fourth 1986: Third 1990: Did not qualify 1994: Did not qualify 1998: Winners 2002: Group stage 2006: Runners-up 2010: Group stage 2014: Quarter-finals Best World Cup Match: France 3-0 Brazil (1998) 'France won the match 3–0 to claim the World Cup for the first time, with the timing of the match two days before Bastille Day adding to the significance of the victory. Zinedine Zidane, who was named man of the match, scored twice before half-time and Emmanuel Petit added a third goal in the last minute.' Wikipedia 'Ronaldo was hyped to be Brazil’s primary attacking threat but he failed to crack the physical French defense. France led by Zinedine Zidane outperformed Brazil nearly in every way.' Expert Football Best player: Michel Platini 'Regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time. Platini won the Ballon d'Or three times, in 1983, 1984 and 1985, and came sixth in the FIFA Player of the Century vote. During his career, Platini played for the clubs Nancy, Saint-Étienne, and Juventus. Nicknamed Le Roi (The King) for his ability and leadership. Despite primarily serving as an advanced midfield playmaker, he was a prolific goalscorer; he won the Serie A capocannoniere award three consecutive times between 1983 and 1985, and was the top scorer of Juventus's victorious 1984–85 European Cup campaign. Platini was a key player of the France national team that won the 1984 European Championship, a tournament in which he was the top scorer and best player, and reached the semi-finals of the 1982 and 1986 World Cups. Together with the midfielders Alain Giresse, Luis Fernández and Jean Tigana, he formed the carré magique (magic square) of the French team in the 1980s. Platini was his country's record goalscorer until 2007, and holds the record for most goals (9) scored in the European Championship despite only appearing in the victorious 1984 edition.' Present World Cup Qualification: Group winners Performance at Continental Championship: Runners-up Most Notable Match in Qualification: France 4-0 Netherlands (Home) Most important player: Antoine Griezmann Denmark History European Cup Winners: Once (1992) World Cup Appearances: 4 times 1930: Did not enter 1934: Did not enter 1938: Did not enter 1950: Did not enter 1954: Did not enter 1958: Did not qualify 1962: Did not enter 1966: Did not qualify 1970: Did not qualify 1974: Did not qualify 1978: Did not qualify 1982: Did not qualify 1986: Second round 1990: Did not qualify 1994: Did not qualify 1998: Quarter-finals 2002: Second round 2006: Did not qualify 2010: Group stage 2014: Did not qualify Best World Cup Match: Denmark 6-1 Uruguay (1986) 'Denmark, making a sensational World Cup debut, used the attacking skills of Preben Elkjaer and Michael Laudrup to beat Uruguay, 6-1, today and become the second team to advance to the second round of the soccer championship.' The New York Times 'The Danes played with style and borrowed heavily from the Dutch team of 1974 to implement their philosophy. A handful of the squad left Denmark for Ajax as youngsters and quickly immersed themselves in a possession-based system built around awareness, movement and intelligence. They scored goals for fun – usually through the wonderful Preben Elkjaer and relied on the pace, guile and imagination of Arnesen and Laudrup to craft the openings. The team’s jersey was a classic too and complemented the elegance of the players wearing it. A white v-neck design with black trim, red and white halves on the body, a subtle pin-stripe was a neat twist and offered something fresh and unique. It was effortlessly cool. Denmark could also rely on the incredible support of a dedicated fan-base. The Roligans (named after the Danish word for quiet) were colourful, calm and charming and were a suitably affable support-group for a brilliant side.' The42 Best player: Michael Laudrup 'He is regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation. During his playing career, Laudrup won league titles with Ajax, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus, playing mainly as an attacking midfielder, although he was also capable of playing in other offensive positions. A world class playmaker, he was a member of Johan Cruyff's Dream Team at Barcelona, where he won nine trophies, including four successive La Liga titles from 1991 to 1994 and the European Cup in 1992. Laudrup moved to arch-rivals Real Madrid in 1994, with whom he won his fifth La Liga title in a row. He starred in the 1986 FIFA World Cup. He played alongside his brother Brian in the Denmark team that reached the quarter-finals of the 1998 World Cup. In 1999, Laudrup was voted the Best Foreign Player in Spanish Football over the preceding 25-year period. In November 2003, to celebrate UEFA's Jubilee, he was selected as the Golden Player of Denmark by the Danish Football Association, their most outstanding player of the past 50 years. He was officially named the best Danish footballer of all time by the Danish Football Association (DBU) in November 2006. He was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players at a FIFA awards ceremony in 2004. In April 2013, he was named by Marca in the "Best foreign eleven in Real Madrid's history". He is by some considered the greatest Scandinavian footballer ever, ahead of the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimović.' Present World Cup Qualification: Play-offs Winners Performance at Continental Championship: Did not qualify Most Notable Match in Qualification: Denmark 5-1 Ireland (Away) Most important player: Christian Eriksen Peru History Copa America Winners: Twice (1939, 1975) World Cup Appearances: 4 times 1930: Group stage 1934: Did not enter 1938: Did not enter 1950: Did not enter 1954: Did not enter 1958: Did not qualify 1962: Did not qualify 1966: Did not qualify 1970: Quarter-finals 1974: Did not qualify 1978: Quarter-finals 1982: Group stage 1986: Did not qualify 1990: Did not qualify 1994: Did not qualify 1998: Did not qualify 2002: Did not qualify 2006: Did not qualify 2010: Did not qualify 2014: Did not qualify Best World Cup Match: Peru 2-4 Brazil (1970) 'Absorbing quarter final clash at Guadaljara’s Estadio Jalisco between 1970’s two most exciting teams.' Goal.com 'But Peru were no pushovers – they possessed an excellent team. Hector Chumpitaz was considered by some as the best, and most elegant, defender in South America, while midfielder Teofilo Cubillas was an outrageously skilful attacking talent.' Goal.com PERU, CUBILLAS AND THE 1970S These Football Times Best player: Teófilo Cubillas 'He was selected as Peru's greatest ever player in an IFFHS poll, in which he was also included in the world's Top 50. He was renowned for his technique, shooting ability and free kick ability. Nicknamed El Nene (The Kid), he was part of the Peru national team that won the 1975 Copa América. He helped Peru reach the quarter finals at the 1970 FIFA World Cup and again at the 1978 World Cup and was elected the South American Footballer of the Year in 1972. He is the all-time leading scorer for his country, with 26 goals in 81 matches. In 2004, Pelé selected Cubillas as one of the FIFA 100, a list of 125 footballing greats. In February 2008, he was selected in the All-Star First Team of South America of the past 50 years. Whilst at Alianza he was top scorer in the Peruvian Primera División in 1966 and 1970. In 1972, he had his most successful season in several years. He was Libertadores Cup top scorer and South American Footballer of the Year.' Present World Cup Qualification: Play-offs Winners Performance at Continental Championship: Quarter-finals Most Notable Match in Qualification: Peru 0-0 Argentina (Away) Most important player: Jefferson Farfán Australia History Asian Cup Winners: Once (2015) Oceanian Cup Winners: 4 times (1980, 1996, 2000, 2004) World Cup Appearances: 4 times 1930: Did not enter 1934: Did not enter 1938: Did not enter 1950: Did not enter 1954: Did not enter 1958: Did not enter 1962: Did not enter 1966: Did not qualify 1970: Did not qualify 1974: Group stage 1978: Did not qualify 1982: Did not qualify 1986: Did not qualify 1990: Did not qualify 1994: Did not qualify 1998: Did not qualify 2002: Did not qualify 2006: Second round 2010: Group stage 2014: Group stage Best World Cup Match: Australia 2-2 Croatia (2006) 'Australia drew with Croatia 2-2 in a drama-packed final Group F game in Stuttgart, Thursday. The draw put Australia on four points and Croatia on two, allowing the Australian team, nicknamed "The Socceroos", to progress into the Fifa World Cup round of sixteen. The action-packed match, had controversy throughout the game.' Wikinews 'Australia had more shots at goal and ball possession in the match, and their second equaliser came 11 minutes from time. Marco Bresciano's cross was flicked onward by John Aloisi, allowing Kewell to strike past Pletikosa near the far post.' Wikinews Best player: Tim Cahill 'He has played for Everton, the New York Red Bulls, Shanghai Shenhua, Hangzhou Greentown, and Melbourne City. Cahill plays as an attacking midfielder, but has also played as a forward on several occasions. A box-to-box midfielder, Cahill has become recognised for "his aggressive and powerful approach and his ability to head the ball in the penalty area". Cahill has become one of the highest profile footballers in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). He was the first Australian to score at a FIFA World Cup. Cahill has scored in three World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014) and has scored the most goals by any Australian in the World Cup with five goals. Cahill is with 50 goals also Australia's highest goalscorer of all time. In 2007, he became the first Australian player to score at an AFC Asian Cup. Tim Cahill was selected under manager Ange Postecoglou as part of his squad which competed in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. A campaign in which Australia was the host nation. Cahill competed well in what became his nation's inaugural Asian Cup title. He scored three goals in the tournament. Cahill is known for his adept heading ability and high vertical leap, having scored many of his goals with his head.' Present World Cup Qualification: Play-offs Winners Performance at Continental Championship: Winners Most Notable Match in Qualification: Australia 2-1 (a.e.t.) Syria (Home) Most important player: Aaron Mooy