Sporting Life
It was victory for Peru on final day - whilst France and Denmark progress after a goalless draw
It was victory for Peru on final day - whilst France and Denmark progress after a goalless draw

World Cup Group C: France and Denmark advance as Peru beat Australia

Football
Tue June 26, 2018 · 6y ago

A review of matchday three in Group C at the 2018 World Cup, as France top the standings...

See the full World Cup tables here

Denmark 0-0 France

Denmark and France played out one of the less memorable games of Russia 2018 so far but a 0-0 draw will have pleased both sides' coaches and fans.

The point was enough to give France top spot in Group C and Denmark came into the game knowing a point would guarantee them a last-16 spot.

France are now 15/2 with Sky Bet to win the tournament outright, while the online bookmaker has priced Denmark at 9/1 to reach the semi-finals.

As it happened, Australia's defeat by Peru meant they could have lost this game and still advanced but they now march on and are 18 games unbeaten.

You can often tell the quality of a match at a packed stadium by when the first Mexican wave starts: 21 minutes was the answer here and it was probably overdue.

But then this entire World Cup has been overdue a stinker and this game had all the ingredients.

Opta match statistics

  • France have gone unbeaten in the group stage in consecutive World Cup tournaments for the first time (P3 W2 D1 in 2014 and 2018).
  • 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.
  • 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).
  • There were just four shots (inc. 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.
  • Steve Mandanda became the oldest player to debut for France at the World Cup, aged 33 years and 90 days.

Australia 0-2 Peru

Andre Carrillo of Peru celebrates after scoring in their World Cup match with Australia

Australia's World Cup last-16 hopes were ended by a 2-0 defeat to Peru, who finished their tournament with a historic win.

The South Americans, who were yet to score in the tournament, went ahead from their first attack when Watford loanee Andre Carrillo's textbook volley beat Mathew Ryan from 15 yards after 18 minutes.

Australia's relentless pressure failed to forge any major openings before Peru doubled their lead, when a wild deflection found Paolo Guerrero in the Australia box, and another from his shot wrong-footed goalkeeper Ryan (50).

Australia forced a couple of half-chances from corners, with Tim Cahill seeing a volley blocked, but the Socceroos' tournament ended with a whimper, while Peru were left wildly celebrating their first World Cup win since 1978.

Opta match statistics

  • Australia failed to win a match at a World Cup tournament for the third time in their five participations (1974, 2014 and 2018).
  • Peru won their first match at the World Cup since a 4-1 win over Iran in 1978 – 14,625 days ago.
  • Peru forward Pablo Guerrero – aged 34 years and 176 days – became the third oldest South American scorer at the World Cup, behind only Argentina’s Martin Palermo (36y 227d) and Obdulio Jacinto Varela of Uruguay (36y 279d).
  • Peru opened the scoring in this match, only the third time they’ve done so in 18 World Cup matches and the first time since 1978 against Iran.
  • Tim Cahill became the first Australian to appear at four different World Cup finals (2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018).
  • Australia’s failure to win any of their three matches at the 2018 World Cup mean that Oceania countries (Australia and New Zealand) have now won just two of their 22 matches at the World Cup finals (D7 L13).

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