Group C (France, Australia, Denmark, Peru)

Pepe LeFrits

(Times are UK)

16 June, 11:00 - France vs Australia
16 June, 17:00 - Peru vs Denmark
21 June, 13:00 - Denmark vs Australia
21 June, 16:00 - France vs Peru
26 June, 15:00 - Denmark vs France
26 June, 15:00 - Australia vs Peru

QuincyAbeyie

Giroud played yesterday, so maybe he actually will play this tournament as well. In that case, Deschamps' love of target man will probably be the downfall of this team. By playing Giroud, he basically has to play two better strikers (Mbappe and Griezmann) out wide, and in doing show push Thauvin, Lemar, Fekir and Dembele (all better than Giroud) further behind in the pecking order.

banduan

Giroud has generally rewarded France for picking him.

It's not their quality that is the problem, Giroud or no. It's their bottle.

QuincyAbeyie

He generally rewarded us for picking him as well, but we replaced him with someone better.

Claudius

Looks like France going with fluid attack of Mbappe, Griezmann and Dembele. Very exciting on paper.

Daz

Come on Aussies!!!

Mirth

Is there anyone worth keeping an eye on in the Aussie team?

y va marquer

Allez les bleus!

"Allons enfants de la Patrie.................

USArsenal

on paper, this shouldnt even be close...

Clrnc

Mirth wrote:
Is there anyone worth keeping an eye on in the Aussie team?

Rogic and Nabbout will interest some mid table PL clubs.

Other than that, Tim Cahill at 39 is still one of their best players.

Ricky1985

Knew France would go with Dembele, Greizmann and Mbappé. Very exciting trio, hopefully they can make it work.

est

This France team looks super-exciting on paper.

Ray

Only player missing from that french team is Rabiot, potential in every position.

Ricky1985

Jedinak wasn't messing around in winning that first header against Pogba!

Mirth

Anyone else think the French midfield is a little too defensive minded?

est

No.

Their front three is as attacking as it gets and Pogba has plenty of offensive ability in midfield.

Think it's nicely balanced.

Ricky1985

Depends how they're trying to play. It lacks someone to control the game, but if they can just get the ball forward quickly to the three up front then that might be enough.

Mirth

Ricky1985 wrote:
Depends how they're trying to play. It lacks someone to control the game, but if they can just get the ball forward quickly to the three up front then that might be enough.

Yeah, I think that's what I meant. They're missing someone who can control the tempo - still they don't really need someone like that against Australia

Ricky1985

I agree. Against Spain, for example, they could be in big trouble. They'd get run rings around.

Making Mbappé the focal point of this team is a move I didn't think Deschamps was a clever enough coach to make.

I think they're only a player of real character and experience in midfield away from being right up there for this tournament.

y va marquer

This game needs Australia to score first.
Very scrappy so far.