FIFA World Cup 2018, draw : Group C: France, Peru, Denmark. Australia Group D: Argentina, Croatia, Iceland, Nigeria Group F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea I can't say that i'm unhappy with draw that Denmark got ... and Iceland got Croatia that they beat in the qualifiers, so they are probably not too unhappy either ... Sweden I don't really know ...
FIFA have ranked the WC teams according to average age and while Iceland have the 2nd oldest squad of them all, Denmark has one of the very youngest teams at the WC and also the youngest team in Group C ... Sweden and Mexico share the highest average age in group F.
We're used to tough groups anyway. South Korea - We should and must beat. Mexico - I would say 50/50 since I do have faith in this Swedish side. Germany - If they have a really bad day we might steal a point but wouldn't count on it. We'll have the longest travell distances during the world cup which we're not that happy about.
Denmark has never faced Peru or Australia at a World cup, but Denmark lost 1-2 to host nation France in the WC-98 group stage, when both nations progressed ... Denmark on the other hand send home France by beating them 2-0 in the final game of the WC-02 group stage in Korea ... otherwise Denmark has also faced France at the Euro finals, losing 0-1 in the group stage in Euro-84 in France, when both teams progressed from the group, while Denmark eliminated France in the Euro-92 group stage by beating them 2-1 ... or in other words, two victories to France (at home) and two to Denmark, but when Denmark won France were eliminated, while when France won they both progressed from the group. As for South American teams, then Denmark beat Uruguay by 6-1 in the group stage of WC-86, lost 2-3 to Brazil in the WC-98 Quarter-finals and beat Uruguay once more by 2-1 in the WC-02 group stage... otherwise Denmark also won the FIFA Confederations Cup by beating Argentina 2-0 in the final. Iceland have never been to a World Cup before and so they have never faced any of the teams in a group stage, though as written above, they beat Croatia in the WC qualifiers. But they have actually never faced Argentina or Nigeria before, not even in a friendly. Sweden lost 1-2 to Germany in their 2nd game (Quarter-finals) of the very first WC finals in 1934 ... In 1950 in Sweden beat Germany by 3-1 in the Semi-finals, while they lost 0-2 to Germany in the round of 16 in WC-06 ... they also lost 2-3 to Germany in the semi-finals at the Euro-92 in Sweden. Mexico and South Korea they have never faced at this stage... but they have faced Mexico 9 times in friendlies, beating them 4 times while losing 2 of the games, they have also met South Korea 4 times in friendlies in the past, with 2 wins and two draws as the result ...
Also can't complain about the order Danmark plays its group opponents: Peru followed by Australia then France.
The two times Denmark have faced France in the last game of a group stage, France have been knocked out... and France looked as least as strong on paper back then as they do now. .., but obviousy, that first game against Peru is the key to success ...
France has always been a team that looks great on paper. No one thought that they'd flame out in 2002. The talent is there, but it is a Deschamps-led side. Shocked a lot of people are picking them to win it. Sweden has an uphill battle. I have a hard time seeing them beat Germany. Mexico and Sweden aren't pushovers either. Should be good.
Well ... one thing is for sure in group C, both Peru, Denmark and Australia qualified through play-off's, which is also why the French feel 100% sure they will easilly progress from the group ... I'm in no doubt that Peru have a good team, that is especially good when they play at home in South America... but it's a long travel to Russia for an NT when most of their present players are not used to play in Europe .. and this could easilly be an issue for Peru. Denmark is a new highly talented young team that has been through a development stage, but finally were looking like a real team in 2017 also producing strong results against Poland and in the play-off's against Ireland.. so they should really be ready to impress in 2018 ... they have the advantage of being used to play away from home and as regular starters in the big leagues of Europe, which also reflect in their results in the WC qualifiers in 2017, where they won 4 out of 5 of their away games. Australia finished 3rd in their qualifying group behind Japan and Saudi Arabia ... and also had trouble getting past Syria in the play-off's ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification#Final_positions_(third_round) ...but most of their players are used to live and play in Europe, which may have been a disadvantage for them in the qualifiers, but should be to their advantage at a WC played in Europe... but they actually have no NT coach at the moment and on paper it's a team that should be no better than Scotland or Ireland.