Group D at the 2022 World Cup consists of France, Tunisia, Denmark and Australia.
Here we take a look at the four nations and rate their chances of qualifying for the knockout rounds.
Here is our preview of Group D.
Read more: World Cup 2022: Dates, Schedule, Location, Groups, Tickets, Odds And More
France
Manager: Didier Deschamps
Star Player: Kylian Mbappe
Historical Best Performance at a World Cup: Winner in 1998 and 2018
If there is a national team that is able to symbolise chaos, then France are the one to do it. Look at 2002 and 2010. 2021 wasn’t quite to that same level but the speculation in the camp between the varying players’ families was enough to see this squad on the brink of implosion. The exit at the Euros to Switzerland was the keg to set off the madness. Add the Pogba fiasco on top and one wonders how Deschamps is able to keep the lid on it.
The now-Juventus man might not even make the playing squad, which is a whole other issue. As is Deschamps’ seeming loyalty to that 2018 World Cup-winning XI. On form, should Griezmann really be certain of a starting place? How has Rabiot finagled his way into a regular starting spot? Is Benzema a better partner for Mbappe than Giroud? With Pogba gone, where is the creative spark going to come from?
It is all up in the air right now. In the end, France are still the favourites because the depth of quality they have is unmatched in the world and just on that strength, they should be able to make it to the quarter-finals. Past that will be reliant on whether they have patched up these aforementioned issues.
Tunisia
Manager: Jalel Kadri
Star Player: Wahbi Khazri
Historical Best Performance at a World Cup: Group Stage in 1978, 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2018
At the last World Cup, Tunisia had the unfortunate circumstance of being drawn in a group with Belgium and England, which made their chances of qualifying pretty low. And it turned out so.
However, their performance in the AFCON tournaments have been better, reaching the quarter-finals regularly. They did so the last time by beating a Nigeria team that many had as the favourites when they had their better players out with COVID. They did so with a low block and frustrating the opponent, which is what they will likely employ at least once in this group.
Wahbi Khazri is the go-to player for this team and will be the one that they will look to in order to create the few moments of attack that will come their way. Hannibal Mejbri is the most talented player in the roster but whether he will be trusted from the start will probably be dependent on whether he plays more on his loan at Birmingham City. He would be an asset in progressing play up the pitch. However, whatever combination of XI they put, it will be difficult for them in this group.
Denmark
Manager: Kasper Hjulmand
Star Player: Christian Eriksen
Historical Best Performance at a World Cup: Quarter Finals in 1998
The emotional low of Eriksen’s cardiac arrest in the Euros made everyone get behind Denmark in the competition. However, they are far from minnows. They have quality and experience in the likes of Eriksen, now shining at Man Utd, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Mikkel Damsgaard, Andreas Christensen, Joakim Maehle, Joachim Andersen and Simon Kjaer.
They were unlucky in their loss to England in the semi-final but the football they played was charged with the emotion of doing it for Eriksen, who will be part of the leadership group at this tournament. Whether they go with a back three or back four will be interesting as it will determine their attacking shape. It would be a benefit as it would allow the wing-backs, Maehle and Daniel Wass, to venture further up without the worry of leaving space behind them. It would also give the width to allow Damsgaard and Eriksen to play in the pockets that they like to operate in. It should be enough to get through to the last 16 and by avoiding a big nation, they might be able to match their best performance at a World Cup.
Australia
Manager: Graham Arnold
Star Player: Aaron Mooy
Historical Best Performance at a World Cup: Round of 16 in 2006
Australia have been able to qualify for the last four tournaments but they have been bounced out at the group stage the last three times. It is not the same squad that had the likes of Tim Cahill, Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka.
Out of everyone, the one that people will know the most is Aaron Mooy, who moved from Huddersfield to Brighton then to China and now at Celtic, who was good enough to acquit himself admirably in the Premier League. The lack of game time for Tom Rogic, plying his trade with West Brom, will present another problem for Graham Arnold as he is an integral player that will be coming into the tournament without significant match fitness. The ex-Celtic player has not been in the squad since March, as he withdrew for personal reasons for the June internationals. Jackson Irvine has been deputising well in that absence and will likely keep that spot for The Socceroos.
Really and truly, it is unlikely that Australia will make it out with Denmark and France likely to beat them but they made it difficult for France in the first game at the last WC, where they were a penalty and own goal away from recording a historic win. They would have to defend as stoutly as they did that day to keep themselves in with a chance of surprising everyone.
How to watch Group D – What channel is it on?
22 November, 13:00: Denmark v Tunisia – ITV
22 November, 19:00: France v Australia – BBC
26 November, 10:00: Tunisia v Australia – BBC
26 November, 16:00: France v Denmark – ITV
30 November, 15:00: Tunisia v France – BBC
30 November, 15:00: Australia v Denmark – BBC
