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The second of three matches for the 32 nations in Russia have begun. Australia has one of the first bites of the cherry and an opportunity to take a prominent position in their group with a win against Denmark at the Samara Arena.
In the corresponding Group C clash, France take on Peru in a match the Peruvians simply must win, while the later game sees the Argentines looking to get their campaign on track when they meet Croatia.
The tipping looked to have settled a last few nights back, with some logic in the results, although Day 6 threw the proverbial spanner in the works.
Enter your tips in the form below and have your say as the voice of the crowd. The panel are battling away and ripe for the picking.
Australia, France, Argentina
As hard as I try to look at this match through completely unbiased eyes, it is tough. My heart screams for an Australian victory and my heard reminds me that Denmark are ninety minutes away from advancing. The Socceroos can win this game and I hope they do yet I see a draw as the likely result.
Peru created numerous chances against the Danes and perhaps deserved a goal. They will be up against the power of France and will need a superhuman defence effort to stay with Les Bleus.
Argentina will bounce back and claim an important three points against Croatia. If they don’t their future will look grim. This Croatian team is a potential nuisance to Messi and his men and until Argentina play in a more united manner, might just be their undoing. Argentina to win by one goal in a desperate and aggressive game.
Australia, draw, Croatia
Arzani to start, Juric to score, Australia to win.
France were ordinary against the Aussies, in my opinion, and they almost suffer from an embarrassment of riches in attack. I’m not sure Didier Deschamps knows who his best starting eleven is, and Peru are already a tricky enough opponent as it is.
(Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
The Peruvians are running high on emotion at the moment, and despite missing a penalty against Denmark, I suspect they’re good enough to jag a draw here.
Are the Argentines in a spot of bother? Lionel Messi might be the best player in the world, but he can’t do it all on his own.
The fact Iceland managed to claw their way back into the match against Argentina should ring alarm bells for coach Jorge Sampaoli, not least because Croatia have the sort of players who can punish a lacklustre defence. I reckon Croatia will upset Argentina in a close one.
Draw, France, Argentina
Here we go. For the first time in his Socceroos tenure, Bert van Marwijk is faced with a fixture he must get a result from. Win here and we’re in the box seat to qualify, but that will require Australia to both keep Christian Eriksen quiet for a second match in a row and create far more opportunities in attack.
Finding more goal scoring opportunities will be easier without having to deal with N’Golo Kante, but keeping Eriksen quiet? I’m not so sure. This one could end all square.
Also important for the Socceroos’ qualification chances is the following match between group rivals France and Peru. Les Blues will be determined to put in a dominant performance to silence any critics about the unconvincing nature of their win over Australia.
Peru offered plenty in attack against Denmark despite failing to score and should keep the French defence honest. Didier Deschamps’ side has too much class for their opponents and should seal qualification with a win.
For a World Cup which wasn’t promising too many upsets, it sure has delivered plenty so far, with Argentina the first side to deliver a truly disappointing result courtesy of their draw against Iceland.
Messi and Argentina will need to keep their eye on the ball against Croatia. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
While Croatia have the talent to snatch a win in this match, expect Lionel Messi to put in an imperious performance after the disappointment of Saturday and carry Argentina to a much-needed victory.
Australia, France, draw
I don’t think this is as optimistic as some might consider it.
Denmark were pinned back by Peru for long periods of their somewhat fortunate 1-0 win and Australia, on the whole, defended very well in open play – particularly in screening passes into the front three. That’s something the midfield will need to do again against Denmark’s Christian Eriksen.
I predict a tight, stodgy affair decided by a set piece.
France were terrible and seem to have imploded further with that bizarre ‘friendly’ against Spartak Moscow U19’s – but surely they won’t stuff things up for us even further in this group?
The key, though, is that Peru look more vulnerable on the break than any other team in this group, and perhaps the one thing that can cover up French incompetency is their lightning-quick counter-attacks.
Argentina struggled for long periods against a very defensive Iceland but should find things a little easier going against Croatia, who had the luxury of playing against a very poor Nigeria. Neither of these teams are as bad or good as their first games suggest, which is why I’m electing for a nice middle ground.
Australia, France, Draw
Denmark didn’t have it all their own way against Peru, but still managed to keep a clean sheet. Defence is definitely their strength – although Eriksen and Yurary can spring a goal if Australia let their guard down.
Christian Eriksen: Denmark’s danger man (AP Photo/Peter Morrison).
Australia’s attack looked fairly impotent against France but the Danish midfield lacks the quality of the French and I think we can hold our own against them.
If we are level by the 80th minute anything could happen. A set piece, last-minute goal from Mr Cahill perhaps? I’ll go for Australia in a 1-0 upset.
France were not convincing in their opening 2-1 win against the Socceroos, but they never really looked like losing either. The Peruvians, with their fantastic support, deserved to get something out of the Denmark game.
I expect France are one of those teams who will improve as the tournament progresses. They should step up another level and be too strong for their South American opponents. This should ensure an attractive fixture for the neutrals.
On current form, Croatia have a chance of beating Argentina. They performed well against a disappointing Nigeria. Mandzukic and Modric should cause problems for an Argentina who struggled to find the killer blow despite starting well against Iceland.
Messi was tightly marked by Iceland and expect more close attention from the Croatians. Something tells me that Croatia would be happy with a point against a team with such strong World Cup pedigree. I can see this being a cagey 1-1 draw.
| Day 8 | Stuart | Mike | Daniel | Tim | Paul | The Crowd |
| DEN vs AUS | AUS | AUS | Draw | AUS | AUS | AUS |
| FRA vs PER | FRA | Draw | FRA | FRA | FRA | FRA |
| ARG vs CRO | ARG | CRO | ARG | Draw | Draw | ARG |
| Previous Total | 4 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 |
| Day 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| New Total | 7 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 |