France must overcome Australia, Denmark and Tunisia in order to progress from Group D and stand any chance of becoming just the third ever side to win consecutive World Cups.
Les Bleus were crowned champions in 2018, beginning with a group that also consisted of two of this year’s opponents in Australia and Denmark. While Peru cannot repeat the same group stage lineup from four years ago, it is Tunisia who come in to replace them with the hope of progressing to the next round.
Mirror Football tells you all you need to know about Group D’s participants, including how they qualified for the tournament, the players to look out for and when all the games take place.
France
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World Cup appearances - 15
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FIFA world ranking - 4
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Head coach - Didier Deschamps
France can become the first side to win back-to-back World Cup’s since Brazil in 1962 should they lift the famous trophy in Qatar this year, although they will have to do so without the midfield duo of N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba.
Les Bleus followed up their triumph four years ago with a surprise round of 16 exit at Euro 2020, although they won the 2021 Nations League finals shortly after. World Cup qualification was secured after topping their qualifying group with five wins from eight games, although they narrowly avoided relegation from their Nations League group in September.
A number of stars who secured the 2018 crown are once again expected to be on show in Qatar, including star striker Kylian Mbappe. Veteran forward Karim Benzema is also part of a squad that is packed with so much quality all over the pitch, leaving France as nailed on favourites to top Group D.
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Australia
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World Cup appearances - 5
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FIFA world ranking - 38
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Head coach - Graham Arnold
Ahead of their fifth consecutive World Cup finals appearance, Australia will be hoping to make it out of the group stage for just the second time in their history, although they are no longer able to rely on the services of retired forward Tim Cahill.
The Socceroos were knocked out of the quarter-finals of the 2019 Asian Cup by the United Arab Emirates, although made amends by defeating the same opponents in a fourth round Asian qualifying match to set up an inter-confederation play-off with Peru in June, where they secured a 5-4 penalty shoot-out victory to secure their place at the World Cup.
Former Brighton and Arsenal goalkeeper Mathew Ryan will be key between the sticks, while Celtic midfielder Aaron Mooy and 13-goal striker Mathew Leckie provide the main threats further up the pitch. They will be key to Australia’s chances of avoiding another early exit.
Denmark
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World Cup appearances - 5
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FIFA world ranking - 10
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Head coach - Kasper Hjulmand
Denmark are very much one of the dark horses for the 2022 World Cup following their impressive rise in European football over the last few years and will be hoping to at least replicate 2018’s second place-finish behind France in the group stage once more.
The Danes drew with both Les Bleus and Australia in Group C four years ago before crashing out to Croatia in the last 16, but reaching the Euro 2020 semi-finals last summer shows exactly what they’re capable of. Nine wins from 10 games in qualification secured their place in Qatar, while there have already been two victories over France this year.
Christian Eriksen made an emotional return to the side following his cardiac arrest last year, with his undoubted quality set to be a threat yet again, while Andreas Christensen and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg will also be crucial if they are to pip France to top spot in Group D.
Tunisia
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World Cup appearances - 5
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FIFA world ranking - 30
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Head coach - Jalel Kadri
Having ended their 12-year absence from the World Cup in 2018, following three successive appearances between 1998-2006, Tunisia have now qualified for their second tournament in a row and will be looking to live up to their underdog status in Group D this year.
Defeats to England and Belgium four years ago brought a quick end to Tunisia’s World Cup campaign, but defeating Mali in a two-legged play-off to book their place in Qatar ensures they are back once more. Before that, there was a fourth-placed finish at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, while they exited at the quarter-final stage in this year’s edition.
While it will be a tough ask for them to make it out of Group D ahead of both France and Denmark, the Eagles of Carthage possess some Premier League experience within their team from the likes of Yan Valery, Hannibal Mejbri and Wahbi Khazri that could be decisive.
Group D fixtures
Denmark vs Tunisia - Tuesday, November 22 (1pm)
France vs Australia - Tuesday, November 22 (7pm)
Tunisia vs Australia - Saturday, November 26 (10am)
France vs Denmark - Saturday, November 26 (4pm)
Tunisia vs France - Wednesday, November 30 (3pm)
Australia vs Denmark - Wednesday, November 30 (3pm)
