Welcome to Part 3 of my World Cup preview where I will take a look at Group C.
In this series I will go through each group and give you my quick thoughts on each team as well as my prediction of the final standings.
Once through the groups I will preview my predicted 2nd round match ups and work through to my predicted 2018 World Cup Winner.
For those of you that like a bet I will also include my cheeky 5ver best bet for each group.
So be sure to check back in on my page as we lead up the World Cup.
Group C Prediction
1st France
2nd Denmark
Australia
Peru
Peru
A 36 year wait is over for Peru and they have managed to squeeze through the tough South American qualifying to pinch the last spot thanks to a two leg Play Off victory over New Zealand (2-0).
The star studded Chilean team could not make it through qualifying and even the Messi led Argentina team only qualified on the last day so Peru immediately deserve respect.
The squad news leading into the World Cup has all been about their veteran lead scorer Paolo Guerrero's doping ban.
The ex Bayern Munch now Flamengo striker has been unable to get the ban overturned and this is a huge blow to the Peruvian's hopes of getting out of the Group Stage.
With Guerrero missing, a lot of the goal scoring pressure will fall on the shoulders of Lokomotive Moscow's Jefferson Farfan.
Farfan has been in good form in the Russian league this season scoring 10 goals and certainly will be familiar with the climate and surroundings at the World Cup.
Farfan also scored an important goal in their 2-0 two leg Playoff victory over New Zealand and the speedy dribbler will be a constant threat up forward for Peru.
Peru have no problem scoring goals but they do have trouble keeping them out and the 26 goals they conceded in qualifying was well above the other South American countries that qualified.
Peru will need to be stronger at the back given the attacking strength of their opponents in the Group and will need their Midfield to help out a Defence that is made up from players in the South American leagues.
I expect to see Peru use the natural pace in their side to advantage and play mostly a counter attacking game.
Peru boast attacking speed other than Farfan up front with the creative Christian Cueva and
Watford’s Andre Corillo also able to cause nervous moments for their opponents on a fast counter.
All in all I just don't see Peru having the weapons to outscore France or Denmark and Australia will see them as the most beatable opponent in the Group.
The loss of not only the scoring but the valuable leadership provided by Paolo Guerrero also dampens their chances and a quick exit from the competition looms.
Players to Watch
Jefferson Farfan
Christian Cueva
Andre Corillo
Australia
The Green and Gold are back in the World Cup for the 3rd time in a row but gee wizz, it was a close call this time.
Saudi Arabia beat them to the automatic qualifying spot in the final group round meaning Australia were forced into not one but two sudden death play offs over two legs against two different opponents.
First up was fellow Asian Qualifier Syria with the winner to face the 4th placed CONCACAF country for a spot in the big dance.
How good could Syria possibly be would of been the thoughts of a lot of Aussies but they were in for a huge scare.
The first leg was played at the neutral Hang Jebat Stadium in Malaysia and was a 1-1 draw.
Australia would of felt good about their chances back at home but after just 6 minutes they were 1-0 down thanks to a shock Syrian goal.
Tim Cahill as he has so often done in the past saved the day and got parity a short time later before the scoring dried up.
The game went into extra time where once again it was Cahill to the rescue with the winner in the 109th minute!
Whilst the Aussies were shaky against Syria, they were a lot better in the final 2 leg qualifying against Honduras.
They got a professional 0-0 result away before a rare Mile Jedinak hat trick led the Aussie's to a 3-1 win and a spot in the 2018 World Cup.
Taking a look at the squad and whilst Tim Cahill remains from their golden generation, he is now 38 years old and can not be expected to lead them on the field for 90 minutes each game.
He will likely be an impact player off the bench and the man they will turn to when chasing the game or needing to break a deadlock.
Even at 38, Cahill is still a menace in the box and always knows where to be at the right moment.
In the Midfield a lot will be asked of talented duo, Huddersfield play maker Aaron Mooy and Celtic's Tom Rogic.
They will be tasked with pulling the strings in the middle of the park and creating the chances.
Aston Villa's old war horse Jedinak will shield a Defence that is alarmingly light on for experience and reliability.
Hertha Berlin's Leckie will bring some speed to the table and be dangerous for the Aussies on the counter.
Up Forward the Australians are screaming out for a striker to take over from Cahill but none have really cemented their spot as yet or proven to be reliable scorers.
The Aussie's usually prefer Western Sydney Wanderer's Juric for his aerial threat but will we get to see Melbourne City's exciting 19 year old Daniel Arzani?
What a story that would be if he could burst onto the International stage and score at a World Cup!
He would be bound to have some bigger teams come knocking sooner rather than later if that happens.
I think with the steel of Jedinak & Milligan, Mooy's class and Cahill's X Factor off the bench, the Aussie's can go one better than the last World Cup where they got 0 points.
I think the Aussies can pinch a victory but getting through the Group Stage will be a bridge too far for now.
Players to Watch
Tim Cahill
Aaron Mooy
Tom Rogic
Denmark
Can the great Danes cause a shock at this World Cup and go deep?
They have certainly got the talent to be taken seriously and have a seriously good Midfielder in the prime of his career, Tottenham's Christian Eriksen.
Eriksen can do it all, create goals, score goals and he is a wizard with the dead ball, just ask the Irish.
With the ties poised at 0-0 heading into the 2nd leg of the sudden death playoff, Ireland would of been feeling pretty good with home ground advantage to come.
They would of been feeling even better after they took a 1 goal lead early but then the Eriksen show began.
Eriksen scored a hat trick in a 5-1 Denmark win that booked their ticket to Russia.
In the group stages Denmark got better the longer it went but were left to rue some early slip ups which meant despite a 4-0 thrashing of table topping Poland, they could not bridge the gap and were forced into a qualifier.
Including the 5-1 win over Ireland, Denmark scored 3 or more goals in a game 5 times so scoring is not a problem for them.
Whilst they find clean sheets hard to come by, their Defence led by Simon Kjaer (Sevilla)and Andreas Christensen (Chelsea), is still alright, better than alright even, and only conceded more than 1 goal in a match once through qualifying.
Taking a look at the rest of their squad now and they certainly have some talent in the Midfield.
Apart from Eriksen, they also possess a fantastic box to box Midfielder in Thomas Delaney of Werder Bremen and his tireless work rate will be ultra important for the Danes.
They also possess the ultra quick Ugandan born Pione Sisto of Celta Vigo in La Liga and he is one that could be important in the attacking winger role.
Whilst he was no champion, they have missed Dennis Rommedahl on that wing since he retired and Sisto could fill that void very nicely.
The Dane's lack a prolific scorer and it does raise eye brows that they have included veteran striker Nicklas Bendtner.
The former Arsenal striker has always seemed to possess a lot of untapped talent but he is currently plying his trade in the Norwegian league for Rosenborg.
No offence to Rosenborg or the Norwegian League but he has hardly taking on the worlds best centre backs there.
Maybe this will be his moment to finally unleash all that potential that just never came to fruition?
At the very least he will bring some X factor off the bench.
I expect to see 23 year old RB Leipzig striker Yussuf Poulsen start up front and at 6 foot 4 he will have a real presence in the box.
A big Tournament could see him Premier League bound in the transfer window as he is rumoured to have some admirers in England.
All in the Danes will give their fans a lot of hope this tournament and I think they are an odds on favourite to get through this Group in the 2nd position.
After that, who knows? I wouldn't put a ceiling on a team that contains Eriksen and I am sure they aren't either.
Players to Watch
Christian Eriksen
Yussuf Poulsen
Pione Sisto
France
You will struggle to find a side more stacked with talent than the French side this year in Russia but there are no guarantees when it comes to France.
This is a French side that despite having Griezmann, Pogba, Kante, Mbappe and Giroud on the pitch as well as home ground advantage, could not beat Luxembourg in September last year.
The big question is can they all gel together as a side and handle the big expectations the Worlds media will bestow on them?
The Luxembourg embarrassment aside, France were very good in qualifying.
They had a tricky group that contained Sweden, Netherlands and Bulgaria yet they only lost the one game and topped the group, 4 points clear of Sweden.
They boast one of the best strikers in the world in Atletico's Antoine Griezmann and he is in great form to.
His last game was in the Europa Cup Final where he starred, scoring 2 goals in a victorious side.
He is well complemented up forward by his strike partner Giroud who whilst not as prolific, brings an aerial threat and is capable of the odd impossible goal.
Expect to see PSG's Mbappe play an attacking role as well in the starting 11 and he is fresh off 21 goals in 17 games for PSG.
He is one of the most exciting young players on the planet and offers France yet another strike weapon.
France back up a great attack with a just as good Midfield and Defence.
Pogba will lead the Midfield and can do it all.
Supremely athletic, can be great defensively when needed but at his best when he is bulldozing his way through defences.
He is a gifted dribbler, can play the killer ball and most of all possesses an awesome amount of power.
If a defence stands off him he will send a missile at the keeper.
You have Matuidi from Juventus and Tolisso from Bayern that will also be pressing for a spot in the starting 11.
One man that is guaranteed a start is Chelsea's N'Golo Kante who is arguably the best Defensive Midfielder on the planet.
Down back they possess more world class talent again with Varane from Real Madrid & Barcelona's Umtiti at Centre Back leading the way.
They also boast Spurs' Lloris in goal who is almost impassable at his best and a great penalty stopper.
However, if there is a weakness in the Les Bleus side, it's here.
Colombia put 3 past them in March and Russia managed to score against them aswell in a recent friendly.
A team that is strong defensively and quick on the counter could get a 1-0 lead and park the bus on them.
If they go out, I am tipping that's how it will happen.
However, that won't be until later in the Tournament and they will top this Group easily.
Players to Watch
Antoine Griezmann
Paul Pogba
N'Golo Kante
Cheeky 5ver Best Bet
Griezmann to win the Golden Boot
ODDS: 11-1
Why?
Griezmann is widely regarded as one of the best strikers on the planet.
He is fresh off a great year with Atletico where he scored 29 goals in all competitions.
He is fully fit and in great goal scoring form heading into the World Cup after scoring a brace in the Europa Cup Final.
Quick speedy strikers like him will get a lot of chances against the Australian and Peru Defences and he could well fill his boots against those two.
France are also expected to hang around in the competition for a long time so he will get many chances to keep increasing his tally.
Will be sure to give you a good run for your money if you back him.
That's it for Group C and thank you for reading.
Be sure to check back soon for the next group.
- Dahmsy79