France and Denmark played out the first 0-0 draw of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, but it didn’t stop them both progressing to the last 16 on Tuesday.
Les Bleus had already qualified but needed a point to top Group B, while Denmark had to draw to guarantee their place ahead of Australia, who lost 2-0 to Peru.
Here are four talking points from the Luzhniki Stadium.
France wasted an opportunity to make a real statement with their performance
Both teams made a host of changes for this game, but France were clearly the most impacted. Didier Deschamps has been heavily criticised by the media in his homeland for not utilising the vast array of attacking quality at his disposal properly, and he did little to silence the disgruntled voices. Olivier Giroud continued to lead the line, but the goal hero against Peru last week, Kylian Mbappe was rested. Thomas Lemar and Ousmane Dembele came in, but the abandonment of the three-pronged attack meant France were much more rigid in their movement. Giroud held the ball up well, but with no one alongside him, he struggled to bring others into play. Dembele and Lemar often found themselves stranded in the midst of Denmark’s low block, while Antoine Griezmann couldn’t run onto the ball, restricting him to efforts from distance.
The familiar frustration of a slow, laboured French display was apparent; it didn’t help that Deschamps had rested willing midfield runners like Paul Pogba and Blaise Matuidi. But the game lacked spark; it was clear that neither were willing to take many risks, knowing that a point would suit both parties. There were a few moments when Djibril Sidibe, in for Benjamin Pavard at right-back, got to the byline, but the ambition to score wasn’t there. Once again, Deschamps and France flattered to deceive, despite the opportunity for some squad players to stake a claim.
Denmark parked the bus but there was logic behind their approach
Credit must go to Denmark and Age Hareide for their display, though. Like Deschamps, he made some big changes. Already without Yussuf Poulsen through suspension, rather than going like for like with his replacement, he decided to change completely. Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen moved into midfield, just behind Christian Eriksen and Thomas Delaney; Andreas Cornelius led the line ahead of Nicolai Jorgensen, who had started the previous two games. Martin Braithwaite, in for Poulsen, and Pione Sisto flanked him, and although they got more space to run into, the big plan to keep balance in midfield but allow Eriksen more freedom didn’t work. Neither did he receive the ball to feet or feed off Cornelius to great effect.
While France had an opportunity to loosen the shackles, Denmark had one thing on their mind. The draw was all that mattered, and news filtering through from Sochi that Peru were beating Australia only firmed up their desire to sit tight. Christensen impressed at the base of the midfield, while Martin Jorgensen, of Huddersfield Town, seemed to enjoy the physical battle with Giroud. Going forward, they offered very little; Sisto was hardly involved before being substituted on the hour mark other than instigating a move that saw Eriksen shoot wide. Australia’s defeat should have given license to Denmark to go on to try and win the group, but it wasn’t to be.
When France return to their strongest side, Djibril Sidibe should stay involved
There were a few shining lights for France, namely Nabil Fekir, who came on for Griezmann to inject pace into their attack. Sidibe, the Monaco fullback, was one of the only players showing intent play directly, and Les Bleus had lacked much of that from his position when Benjamin Pavard, a natural centre half, played there in the opening two games. Deschamps is a man very much in favour of keeping a team organised and letting the front players win the game, but as they showed again, they struggle for a Plan B.
It would be interesting to see how Sidibe would improve matters if he stays in the side when they revert to their strongest set up in the knockout stages. The midfield would start much closer to the attack, while benefitting from Sidibe driving forward from deep. Fekir came on with a point to prove and, alongside Mbappe, looked like changing the game, showing that France do have players capable of making an impression if given the license to do so. Deschamps remains a huge obstacle for their chances of a second World Cup triumph as he continuously fails to heed obvious warnings.
Nicolai Jorgensen was a miss for Denmark
Despite Cornelius’ impressive physique, standing at 6 foot 5, he struggled to make an impact on the game; it is clear that Jorgensen is the man Hareide has built his system around and he should come back in after being rested. Other than a neat cross that nearly got Eriksen in during the first half, there wasn’t much the former Cardiff City striker did to usurp the Feyenoord man.
It was clear that this result was in part down to circumstance and both sides got what they wanted. Denmark showed how organised they are but will hope they can threaten more when key players return; France simply have to find another level, but if they do, they will become serious contenders.
