World Cup 2018: France secure top spot as Denmark progress
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Highlights: Denmark 0-0 France
Denmark joined France in the last 16 of the World Cup after playing out the first goalless draw of the tournament, which was greeted by boos at the final whistle.
A draw was good enough to see a much-changed French side top Group C, while Denmark knew a point would be enough for them too, even if Australia beat Peru.
That scenario resulted in a game that lacked ambition, chances and any element of danger, not helped by news midway through the first half that Peru were winning in Sochi.
The fans in Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium were initially enthusiastic enough, especially the red-shirted Danes who packed one end.
But they saw little in the way of goal-mouth excitement, with the first shot on target arriving in the 39th minute, when France's Antoine Griezmann turned to fire a tame effort at Kasper Schmeichel from the edge of the area.
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Relive France v Denmark as it happened
Who needs what? Remaining group permutations
Peru beat Australia for first World Cup win in 40 years
Peru defeated Australia 2-0 in Group C's other game to register their first win of the tournament and move up to third.
Denmark did fashion the best chance of the first half, when France keeper Steve Mandanda just beat Christian Eriksen to Andreas Cornelius's excellent low cross.
But their only shot on target came after 54 minutes when Mandanda spilled Eriksen's free-kick. The Marseille keeper recovered before Cornelius could capitalise on the rebound.
Both sides stepped up their safety-first approach as the second half progressed - bringing jeers and whistles from many neutrals in the stadium - to ensure they got the result they desired.
France, who rested midfield trio Paul Pogba, Blaise Matuidi and Corentin Tolisso - all of whom were a booking away from a ban - will play the runners-up in Group D in Kazan on Saturday.
That could be any one of the four teams, while Denmark's fate is a little clearer after Peru's 2-0 win over Australia confirmed their qualification in second place. Age Hareide's side will play the Group D winners, either Croatia or Nigeria, in Nizhny Novgorod on Sunday.
France enjoyed almost 70% of the possession but were unable to find a way through against Denmark.France must wait to find their rhythm
France had won their first two games without really finding their rhythm and Didier Deschamps' decision to make six changes meant that was always unlikely to happen here either.
There were some brief glimpses of the quality that Deschamps has at his disposal, thanks to Griezmann's intelligent movement behind the Denmark defence, and right-back Djibril Sidibe's runs up the right flank.
Liverpool target Nabil Fekir also showed some nice touches when he replaced Griezmann for the last 20 minutes, and did come close to breaking the deadlock when he fired into the side-netting.
But otherwise there was little urgency on display, and no sense the France players had any desire to clinch their third successive win.
Denmark through - but not in style
Denmark are into the knockout stages of a World Cup for the first time since 2002 and are unbeaten in their past 18 games, but this display will not have allayed the critics of their head coach Hareide.
Norwegian Hareide's pragmatic approach has already annoyed Danish fans and media alike, and a performance like this one is unlikely to make him many new friends.
A bright start, that saw Middlesbrough's Martin Braithwaite make some incisive runs down the right wing, soon petered out as Denmark defended in numbers.
Even with Australia 2-0 down and Denmark's progress virtually assured, Hareide's side dropped deeper as the second half progressed and made their intentions clear.
Man of the Match - Christian Eriksen (Denmark)
Denmark’s one genuine star was involved in two of the rare moments of excitement in this otherwise forgettable matchThe longest wait for a 0-0 at a World Cup - the key stats
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France have gone unbeaten in the group stage in consecutive World Cup tournaments for the first time (P3 W2 D1 in 2014 and 2018).
Since their defeat to Portugal in the Euro 2016 final, France have only lost one of their 13 games in competitive action (W9 D3).
This was the first 0-0 of the 2018 World Cup, making it the longest wait from the start of a single tournament for one - there had been 36 games played prior to today.
Denmark and France have drawn an international for the first time since September 1976 (1-1), with this being just the second draw in 16 total meetings.
This was Didier Deschamps' 79th game in charge of France, equalling Raymond Domenech's record with the national team.
Deschamps' 79 games in charge of France have now produced nine 0-0 results, with this the first since a stalemate with Luxembourg in September 2017.
Kasper Schmeichel (two in three games) has now kept more clean sheets for Denmark at the World Cup than his father Peter (one in five games).
Prior to his substitution in the 68th minute, Antoine Griezmann didn't complete a single pass to strike partner Olivier Giroud.
There were just four shots (including blocks) from inside the box in this game (four for France, none for Denmark) - the fewest in any game so far at the 2018 World Cup.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Denmark
1Schmeichel
14Dalsgaard
4Kjaer
13M JorgensenBooked at 45mins
17Stryger Larsen
6Christensen
11Braithwaite
10Eriksen
8DelaneySubstituted forLeragerat 90+2'minutes
23SistoSubstituted forFischerat 60'minutes
21CorneliusSubstituted forDolbergat 75'minutes
Substitutes
2Krohn-Dehli
3Vestergaard
5Knudsen
7Kvist
9N Jørgensen
12Dolberg
15Fischer
16Lössl
18Lerager
19Schöne
22Ronnow
France
16Mandanda
19Sidibe
4Varane
3Kimpembe
21HernándezSubstituted forMendyat 50'minutes
13Kanté
15N'Zonzi
11DembéléSubstituted forMbappéat 78'minutes
7GriezmannSubstituted forFekirat 68'minutes
8Lemar
9Giroud
Substitutes
1Lloris
2Pavard
5Umtiti
6Pogba
10Mbappé
12Tolisso
14Matuidi
17Rami
18Fekir
20Thauvin
22Mendy
23Areola
Referee:
Sandro Meira Ricci
Attendance:
78,011
Match Stats
Home TeamDenmarkAway TeamFrance
Possession
Home32%
Away68%
Shots
Home4
Away11
Shots on Target
Home1
Away3
Corners
Home4
Away2
Fouls
Home10
Away10
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Denmark 0, France 0.
Full TimePosted at 90'+4'
Second Half ends, Denmark 0, France 0.
SubstitutionPosted at 90'+2'
Substitution, Denmark. Lukas Lerager replaces Thomas Delaney.
Posted at 90'+2'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Posted at 90'+2'
Delay in match Thomas Delaney (Denmark) because of an injury.
Posted at 84'
Presnel Kimpembe (France) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 84'
Foul by Kasper Dolberg (Denmark).
Posted at 82'
Attempt saved. Nabil Fekir (France) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Kylian Mbappé.
Posted at 82'
N'Golo Kanté (France) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 82'
Foul by Thomas Delaney (Denmark).
Posted at 79'
Attempt missed. Olivier Giroud (France) left footed shot from the right side of the box is too high. Assisted by Djibril Sidibe with a headed pass.
SubstitutionPosted at 78'
Substitution, France. Kylian Mbappé replaces Ousmane Dembélé.
SubstitutionPosted at 75'
Substitution, Denmark. Kasper Dolberg replaces Andreas Cornelius.
Posted at 74'
Attempt missed. Olivier Giroud (France) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Benjamin Mendy with a cross.
Posted at 71'
Steven N'Zonzi (France) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 71'
Foul by Thomas Delaney (Denmark).
Posted at 70'
Attempt missed. Nabil Fekir (France) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Thomas Lemar.
Posted at 69'
Offside, Denmark. Jens Stryger Larsen tries a through ball, but Viktor Fischer is caught offside.
SubstitutionPosted at 68'
Substitution, France. Nabil Fekir replaces Antoine Griezmann.
Posted at 68'
Foul by Antoine Griezmann (France).
Posted at 68'
Thomas Delaney (Denmark) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 63'
Attempt blocked. Viktor Fischer (Denmark) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Posted at 62'
Corner, Denmark. Conceded by Presnel Kimpembe.
Posted at 61'
Foul by N'Golo Kanté (France).
Posted at 61'
Thomas Delaney (Denmark) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
SubstitutionPosted at 60'
Substitution, Denmark. Viktor Fischer replaces Pione Sisto.
Posted at 59'
Attempt missed. Christian Eriksen (Denmark) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Jens Stryger Larsen.
Posted at 57'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Posted at 56'
Delay in match Andreas Cornelius (Denmark) because of an injury.
Posted at 55'
Attempt blocked. Thomas Lemar (France) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Olivier Giroud.
Posted at 54'
Attempt saved. Christian Eriksen (Denmark) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Posted at 53'
Foul by Raphael Varane (France).
Posted at 53'
Andreas Cornelius (Denmark) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 52'
Foul by Presnel Kimpembe (France).
Posted at 52'
Andreas Cornelius (Denmark) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 51'
Attempt saved. Antoine Griezmann (France) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Djibril Sidibe.
SubstitutionPosted at 50'
Substitution, France. Benjamin Mendy replaces Lucas Hernández.
Posted at 50'
N'Golo Kanté (France) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 50'
Foul by Andreas Cornelius (Denmark).
Posted at 49'
Foul by Lucas Hernández (France).
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Source: bbc.com
Source: bbc.com
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