Denmark and Australia played in an evenly-fought, intense contest, ending in a 1-1 draw in their second match in Group C at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ in Samara.
Christian Eriksen opened the scoring in the seventh minute when Nicolai Jorgensen laid off a well-placed pass for the Tottenham Hotspur star to beyond Socceroos keeper Mat Ryan.
However a Yussuf Poulsen handball inside the Danish area – following a VAR review – presented Australia the break they need. Mile Jedinak converted the resulting penalty and a yellow card for Poulsen means he will miss Denmark’s next match.
With the high intensity continuing into the second period, both teams creating scoring opportunities, but to no avail. The result sees Australia end a run of four consecutive World Cup defeats, while Denmark are unbeaten in their last 17 games.
France needed a lone first-half strike from teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe to edge past Peru and end the South American’s hopes of reaching Russia 2018’s Round of 16. France’s all-star side were made to work overtime before subduing a brave Peru in front of a buoyant South American-flavoured crowd.
La Blanquirroja enjoyed good periods throughout the match and were outplayed only in the final quarter-hour of the first half. It was at that point that Mbappe broke the deadlock with a close-range tap-in. It proved enough for France to maintain their lead at the top of Group C and shore up a ticket to the last-16.
Peru can consider themselves unlucky with Paolo Guerrero denied and Pedro Aquino hitting the post. Peru’s campaign is now over after successive 1-0 defeats.
Croatia advanced to the Round of 16 for the second time in their history after cruising to victory over Argentina. With Lionel Messi lacking in inspiration, *La Albiceleste *paid for their defensive frailties on a dark night and are now on the verge of exiting the competition.
The eastern Europeans were content to sit back in the first half, aware that Jorge Sampaoli’s side had the greater need to attack. Though Argentina tried to take the initiative and enjoyed the lion’s share of possession, they were unable to convert it into chances, with Sergio Aguero and a visibly ill-at-ease Messi largely anonymous. And when the South Americans finally carved out a clear-cut opportunity, Enzo Perez contrived to shoot wide with the goal gaping.
Showing more ambition after the restart, the Croatians promptly revealed the shortcomings of their opponents’ rearguard. A penetrating presence on the right, Ante Rebic capped a fine display by capitalising on a Willy Caballero error with a superb finish.
Sampaoli turned to his bench for an immediate solution, and though Gonzalo Higuain, Paulo Dybala and Cristian Pavon all showed flashes of inspiration after coming on, there was to be no revival. Taking full advantage of Argentina’s lack of composure at the back, Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic both scored to compound their misery.
