Australia have failed in their quest to put away Denmark and keep their qualification path to the knockout stages at the FIFA World Cup in their own hands, having to settle for a one-all draw.
The Danish side were fantastic early and with the Socceroos seemingly stuck in the sheds during the first quarter of an hour, the European nation didn’t disappoint as they scored the first goal of the contest through Christian Eriksen.
Australia, after surviving some more opportunities, got themselves on the front foot and right back into the contest, with the VAR controversially ruling a handball had been committed off a corner by Danish attack Yussuf Poulsen. Mile Jedinak made no mistake on the penalty.
The Socceroos stayed aggressive into the second half, but failed to put the game away despite having countless chances in front of goal.
Australia now needs to beat Peru and have other results fall their way if they are to advance to the knockout stage.
Final score
Australia 1
Denmark 1
» Read our full match report here.
The Socceroos will look to register their first points of the FIFA World Cup and keep the qualification dream alive when they take on Denmark in Samara. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 10pm (AEST).
Australia were never expected to win their first game of the tournament, but put in a stirring performance none the less with only a penalty and lucky goal for Paul Pogba getting France over the line.
The 2-1 loss for the Socceroos saw them defend excellently, keeping the damaging French attack quiet for a vast majority of the game.
While they could only muster a single goal through a Mile Jedinak penalty themselves, the Socceroos will take plenty of confidence from the contest, despite not registering a point.
Despite the performance, they now find themselves in a position where they must win their second game to control their own destiny as the ‘Roos hunt for qualification to the knockout stages for the first time since 2006.
With Denmark winning their first game, a draw would mean they need France to beat both Peru and the Danes, with Australia to then clean up Peru for an advancement to the second round. Essentially, anything other than a win leaves them in trouble.
Denmark were far from perfect in their first outing at the Cup with Peru somehow keeping gun forward Christian Eriksen quiet. He struggled to break the Peruvian backline like he normally would, but there in lies one of the challenges for Australia.
While Eriksen did have a hand in Denmark’s only goal in the 1-0 win, it’s rare for him to be kept quiet two games in a row, so Australia must remain strong in defence if they are going to force a result in their favour.
The Socceroos have questions of their own to answer. The starting XI is likely to change, with questions particularly around the forward line. Andrew Nabbout and Tom Rogic started the first game, but are unlikely to do so again with Jackson Irvine, Tim Cahill, Daniel Arzani and Jamie Maclaren seemingly in the line to earn a call up for Bert Van Marwijk’s side.
Whatever the case, the Aussies must be aggressive and make their opportunities count.
Prediction
The Socceroos have to come out and go for the kill here, but unfortunately, that might leave them vulnerable at the back. It’ll be hard to keep the Danes down two games in a row, but I expect the Aussies to cling to a point and their FIFA World Cup life.
Socceroos 1 – Denmark 1.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this World Cup match from 10pm (AEST) and don’t forget to drop a comment in the section below.
Max Mayer
Roar Guru
Decent result which keeps us alive and Bert clearly has the defence well set up, but felt that the substitutions left a bit to be desired. Case in point, seventeen minutes to go, Nabbout pops his shoulder and Australia's greatest goalscorer is on the bench. Who comes on? Tomi ****** Juric. Likewise, felt that putting Irvine on at that stage wasn't the best choice. If you're going to bring off Rogic who had been one of our main attacking threats up until that point, you could have at least replaced him with a more potent goal-threat. As a Roar fan, I may be biased, but surely Maclaren or Petratos would have been a better option than Irvine? Despite my aggrivated late-night state of mind, these are minor gripes and am very proud of the effort the boys put in. Only change I could see for the Peru game would be Kruse out and potentially, Petratos or Arzani in (although starting Danny would be a big risk). And please, please bring on Timmy, at least for a short stint. We have to throw caution to the wind .
Fc
Guest
yeh freaking sucks when we should have won but drew because we had no goal scorer like Cahill playing the match and now are relying on other teams to lose or win for us to qualify to the next round. Australia would be the best team if we had one or two goal scorers...but we have none
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
I could say the same thing about France. They didn’t look like scoring for $@%T either, but they did through luck and Ar$e. It’s also much harder to quantify how many goals Cahill has cost us. This game was very open towards the end; a state of play where you don’t want a liability like Cahill. Now I have no issue with your opinion, but I do have one with rank amateurs like Foz who don’t acknowledge the potential downfalls of bringing him on. Just poor analysis.
steveng
Roar Rookie
I've noticed that you have it in for Cahill, the bloke has more talent and foresight then you have in your little finger. Just remember Cahill has won more games for the Roos then any other player in the Roos history! This game was marred by Cahill not coming on, its a fact and it will come back to haunt Australia! Bert Van Marwijk made a BIG mistake in the France game and a BIG mistake in this game, the Aussies were fortunate to score 2 goals from penalties, the first game they didn't look like scouring zero and in this game they looked like scoring but didn't have the gun 'Cahill'!!! Simple fact and this will be a big issue come Peru if Cahill doesn't play and Bert Van Marwijk should be sacked and never heard of again!
Fc
Guest
Spend a few million dollars and get a good European coach in the next four years.... stupid just getting a good euro coach only when in the world cup qualifiers....It should start from next month
AGO74
Guest
He does. For a guy who has the expression of cardboard you can tell with his expressions that he loves the team.
Fc
Guest
could have been 2-1 australia if they listened to SBS
Sam
Guest
So dissapointing another World Cup with out winning a game its demoralising this was a game where Azani and Cahill should have come on yet no Cahill a game we had to win so why not Cahill even for the last ten mins .why bring him if you have no intentions to playing him.we should have won both we did everything but score. More dissapointed for the game in this country a winning Socceroos would be the tonic our game needs here .back to the drawing board and the buffoons at FFA.who havent got a clue.i am thinking FFA made BVM bring Cahil to Russia he didn't want him Caltex did so BVM had to bring for the sponsors sake .there was a reason all the Caltex marketing stuff came out same day the team announcement was made .it was all decided before BVM came into the picture
Redondo
Guest
We want Peru to beat France.
jamesb
Guest
Well played lads. We are still alive.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Well what I wouldn’t give to be a Pot 2 nation. If we can play like that and are not considered that good, imagine if we were easily Pot 2 instead of Pot 4. In saying that the gap between nations is very narrow, and comes down to how timid and defensive you want to play. Can we set a goal of being a Pot 2 nation in the 2026 World Cup.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Genius in hindsight comments. Perhaps if Cahil comes on we lose 2-1 and kiss any chance of progressing goodbye! Foz isn’t that smart though.
KinMan
Guest
I can explain why the coach did not sub Tim Cahill. The coach feels he was pressured by the Australian Football executives to take Tim to Russia and he is now making a statement by rebelling . I do not think Tim will get a game, unless we find ourselves with no hope left, then the coach will play Tim and look into the eyes of his bosses and laugh. The coach does not believe the dream! I feel so sorry for Tim. He deserves so much more from his country. This coach is not Australian. In these circumstances, I can see only one reason why he did not play Tim, and it is vindictive and hurtful.
Griffo
Roar Guru
I am wondering if Graeme Arnold wouldn’t mind taking an 9 month sabbatical and BvM stay for Asian Cup defence. He is loving this team like nothing else.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Foz going on at length why Cahill hasn’t been used and questioning it.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this evening right here on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup as Australia drew one-all with Denmark. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. Next up is a now crucial game between France and Peru at 1am (AEST). TomC will be live with that one. I'll be back on Sunday morning for South Korea and Mexico. Bye for now.
AGO74
Guest
Yes you are right. Go Peru vs France then go France vs Denmark. This is the problem....relying on other results.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Rogic much better this game. Leckie perhaps our best. Perhaps a chance for Arzani to start against Peru but I think BvM settled on this starting lineup and those subs look likely. Cahill’s bid to score in four straight World Cups looks shaky at best. Not sure he would be any better over Juric who was better holding up play.
Fadida
Guest
Nah, best coming off the bench after 50. I wouldn't start Kruse
Fadida
Guest
We were excellent. I would have liked Arzani on after 50 minutes. Foster is talking about pressing but Jedinak was gone. They would have got us in transition. Bert loves our squad. You can tell