Group C Predictions

At the moment there is a Global hunt against drugs in sports, with the latest being the Olympic Committee ban on Russia from the 2018 Winter Games .. it does not look all too good for FIFA that the WC will be played in Russia, so at the moment they surely feel the need to show that they are also very tough on drugs. CAS would also look bad if they were to go against FIFA in a case like this.

 

The point is not really if it's a 1, 2 or 4 year ban, but that if FIFA (or CAS) reduce it, to let him play in the WC, they will look very weak on drugs at a time when FIFA are already feeling the heat for letting Russia host a WC ...

 

1)France
2) Denmark
3)Peru
4) Australia

 

France and Peru to advance, although Denmark may surprise. Australia is still at the same level as in WC14, although they should exit with at least a point.

 

While I recognize it is easy to put too much emphasis on transfer values, I was nevertheless a bit shocked to see that Peru has only one player (Andre Carrillo) with a transfer value over 5 million euros. Denmark (no powerhouse when it comes to transfer values) has 16 players over that amount.

Peru must play very well as a unit, to qualify from CONMEBOL with (apparently ) limited talent.

https://www.transfermarkt.com/spiel...d=alle&altersklasse=alle&land_id=133&yt0=Show

 

Not really. They have a lot of talent (young talent) which includes star power, a lot of depth and unlike 2010, they have a competent head coach.
Unless a bunch of players get hurt at once or for some reason or another the coach losses the team (which won't happen), they should comfortable get out of this group and probably go far.

 

Guerrero's case isn't exactly the "drugs" that the Russian olympic federation are said to have used, or wanted to use.

 

No but it would be a dream come true if that is to happen.

 

Not an easy group even if France would be the clear favorite to advance. Tough to pick between Denmark and Peru while the Socceroos will also have a chance.

 

Yeah France will not have it easy. Denmark is improving, and Peru and Australia are not teams to be underestimated. I also don't believe France will take full 9 points. I think more like 7pts which will still put them top of the group.

 

Yeah pretty much. And I believe they will beat Peru and Australia and tie with Denmark, which is one of the reasons why I say Denmark is the favorite to go second place because they are France's last game.

 

This will go down well in the French dressing room. A French implosion is overdue anyway.

 

This group needs a proper thread. It is really too early for predictions and there isn't a thread for a more general discussion about this group. I actually like to learn more about how the teams in this group are doing. Besides Australia, I am rather clueless when it comes to the others. Even France is a side I know only from their Euro 2016 campaign at home and haven't seen much of them since. And I am certainly not as up to date when it comes to the Danes. As for Peru, I need to better understand how they rank so highly by both FIFA and ELO, not in terms of their results, but understanding their team. From everything I know, they appear mediocre and would be more an average pot 3 side than a highly ranked pot 2 team (ranked #10 by FIFA and #12 by ELO!). Peru certainly didn't impress me against New Zealand.

p.s.
Given that Peru did not have an easy time beating New Zealand in the playoffs, and the fact that Australia is much better than New Zealand but of similar character, that actually doesn't portend well for Peru against the Socceroos. Indeed, it appears to me that if Australia were to be content with a draw against Peru, they could accomplish that task rather easily.

 

Denmark is a very small country population wise, but the NT's (also at youth level) are always highly attacking minded and insist on keeping possession, which is also why they narrowly fail to qualify at times when they are building a new team ... but when they then manage qualify they usually also get past the group stage and impress while doing so ...

If you look at this years results, this team has drawn 1-1 with Germany in a friendly and beaten Poland by 4-0 in the WC qualifiers, but probably more importantly they have won 4 of their 5 away games (except for a 0-0 draw in Romania) in the WC qualifers including the 5-1 away win in the play-off against Ireland, so it's a new young team that also do exceptionally well when playing away from home ...

 

They appear mediocre based on the games you watch them play against new Zealand?
I'm just curious how you rate Iran against Peru.
Because Iran couldn't beat Argentina last world cup; but Peru tied them twice even in Argentina, last qualifiers