GROUP C

FRANCE Going into the tournament as favourites, if football was played on paper, few would argue with France’s credentials. Formidably strong in every area, the country feels a second World Cup victory is overdue. With this expectation comes a similar pressure to that seen in their home European Championships two years ago though, and the wounds from their final defeat against Portugal in 2016 will need to have healed if they are to realise their potential this summer. PREDICTION: Quarter Finals

AUSTRALIA

PERU

DENMARK Qualifying via the playoffs, Denmark will be competing in the World Cup for the first time since 2010 in South Africa and will be confident of overcoming Australia and Peru to claim the second knockout round birth behind France. Underestimating either or both would be a huge mistake though, and the latter South Americans’ hunger to stay in a tournament they’ve not qualified for since 1982 may give them the psychological edge over the Scandinavians. PREDICTION: Group Stages