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Welcome back to our ongoing preview of the 2018 World Cup due to kickoff next Thursday from Russia. So far, we've maneuvered through Groups A & B, with the latter group featuring two behemoths in Portugal and Spain. Group C, however is built to provide drama. The French are the favorites, but after them are three countries who all share similar World Cup history and experience, and are all ranked rather similarly in the latest Fifa Rankings. Peru, Denmark, and Australia are about as evenly-matched as you will find in the any of the groups in this year's edition of the tournament. While Peru is being slightly pegged to advance ahead of the other two, all three are capable, and really any combination out of this group that advances will not be entirely surprising. So with Group C ready to seemingly present some drama, let's get to it:
FRANCE
Appearances: 15th
World Cup History: 1930, 1934, 1938 (hosts), 1954, 1958, 1966, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1998 (hosts), 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014
Best Finish: Champions (1998)
World Cup Record: 28-12-19 (W-D-L)
Current World Ranking: (7)
Les Bleus is the popular pick among pundits to top the Group, but it will be no easy task. The group is very balanced, and while the French are the most talented side on paper, it hasn't always transferred over to success. The 1998 Champions and 2006 Runners-Up are hoping to capture some of the magic from those two impressive campaigns, and they have the talent to do so. 2014 gave France something solid to build upon as they topped Group E with 7 points and finished with a +6 goal differential in the group matches. They bowed out to eventual Champions Germany in the Quarterfinals, losing 1-0 in a close match. Play-making midfielder Paul Pogba is right in his prime at age 25 and has the experience of playing in a World Cup 4 years ago to draw upon as many expect France to once again reach the Quarterfinals, and possibly more. Head man Didier Deschamps is in his sixth season at the helm of the French squad, and this year's edition is as balanced with talented youth and experience as any. Semifinals or more could even be a possibility, but one must always be ware of the proverbial laying of an egg, as they did under high expectations in 2002.
PERU
Appearances: 5th
World Cup History: 1930, 1970, 1978, 1982
Best Finish: Quarterfinals (1970)
World Cup Record: 4-3-8 (W-D-L)
Current World Ranking: (11)
La Blanquirroja are back in the World Cup for the first time in 36 years and are currently enjoying one of their highest World Rankings in their history. It is a wonderful time to be a fan of Peru at the moment, as they eked out a birth in an international playoff over power Chile on goal differential in CONMEBOL Qualifying. A win at Uruguay and a pair of draws with Argentina in the qualifying campaign have proved that this squad can matchup with the best. Los Incas has lacked the grit and egoless-unity needed to advance in such a difficult tournament in the past, but this year's edition is refreshingly free of such hinderances. Peru have not advanced past the Quarterfinals before, and if this squad is to match that lofty feat once again, they will need to play on both sides and continue their form from the close of qualifying when they defeated Uruguay, Bolivia, and Ecuador, and then drew with Argentina and Columbia. That kind of play should be enough to advance, but it is going to difficult against three other sides that all boast substantially more recent World Cup experience.
DENMARK
Appearances: 5th
World Cup History: 1986, 1998, 2002, 2010
Best Finish: Quarterfinals (1998)
World Cup Record: 8-2-6 (W-D-L)
Current World Ranking: (12)
Sitting directly behind Peru in the latest Fifa World Rankings is Denmark, and what a surprise, the two will meet to open up group play. It should be about as even a matchup as we will see in the opening round of games, at least on paper anyway. The Danes finished 2nd to Poland in Group E of European Qualifying and then went on to paste the Irish 5-1, in the second leg of a home-away playoff to punch their ticket to Russia. Denmark had a relatively weak group by UEFA standards, with Montenegro, Romania, Armenia, and Kazakhstan all part of the group. They will get a stiff test right away with Peru, and it won't get any easier when they finish with France. The winner of the opening match with Peru could have a leg-up in advancing. Age Hareide's side appears to be in top form heading into the Tournament, as they have not lost a match since falling 1-0 at home to Montenegro in October 2016. Since then it's been 8 wins and 7 draws in 15 international matches. The 'Danish Dynamite' are particularly sound along the back, and don't concede much (only 2 goals surrendered in last 9 international matches including qualifiers and friendlies). It would not shock to see Denmark on top of the group or on the bottom of the group - the four squads are that balanced.
AUSTRALIA
Appearances: 5th
World Cup History: 1974, 2006, 2010, 2014
Best Finish: Round of 16 (2006)
World Cup Record: 2-3-8 (W-D-L)
Current World Ranking: (36)
Make it four consecutive World Cup appearances for the Socceroos, as they will be attempting to do something that they've only been able to do once and that is advance out of the group stage. It won't be easy as they start play with group favorites France, and it almost seems as though a result is a must if they are to attain that goal. 38-year old Tim Cahill has apparently found the fountain of youth as he continues to show no sign of slowing down and remains the heart and soul of the Australians. He's scored more goals than any other player in the history of Australian soccer (50), and will be playing in his fourth consecutive World Cup. He was the first Australian to score a goal in the World Cup when he did so in 2006 as the squad failed to score in their first appearance in 1974. Cahill also scored at least one goal in each of the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, and is the all-time leader in goals scored for the Socceroos in the competition with 5 total in World Cup play. You get the picture, if the Australians are to make it out of the difficult and well-balanced group, it will most likely take more magic from their ageless wonder.
PREDICTION: France, Denmark advance
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