World Cup Qatar 2022 Preview: Group D

Image credit: History of Soccer

By: Anthony Tazbaz

Group Schedule

• Match Week 1

  • Tuesday, November 22: Denmark vs Tunisia, Education City Stadium, 8:00 EST

  • Tuesday, November 22: France vs Australia, Al Janoub Stadium, 14:00 EST

• Match Week 2

  • Saturday, November 26: Tunisia vs Australia, Al Janoub Stadium, 5:00 EST

  • Saturday, November 26: France vs Denmark, Stadium 974, 11:00 EST

• Match Week 3

  • Wednesday, November 30: Tunisia vs France, Education City Stadium, 10:00 EST

  • Wednesday, November 30: Australia vs Denmark, Al Janoub Stadium, 10:00 EST

 Countries

France

Nickname: Les Bleus (“The Blues” in French)

Head Coach: Didier Deschamps

Players to Watch

·      Kylian Mbappe (23): Forward, Paris Saint-Germain

·      Antoine Griezmann (31): Forward, Atletico Madrid

·      Eduardo Camavinga (20): Midfielder, Réal Madrid

Qualification Run

·      Round 1: 5W, 3D, 0L—18 PTS and 1st place in UEFA Group D

Australia

Nickname: The Socceroos

Head Coach: Graham Arnold

Players to Watch

·      Aaron Mooy (32): Midfielder, Celtic FC

·      Ajdin Hrustic (26): Midfielder, Hella Verona

·      Mat Ryan (30): Goalkeeper, FC Copenhagen  

Qualification Run

• Round 2: 8W, 0D, 0L—24 PTS and 1st in AFC Group B

• Round 3: 4W, 3D, 3L—15 PTS and 3rd in AFC Group B, advances to Round 4

• Round 4: United Arab Emirates 1–2 Australia—advances to Inter-confederation play-off

• Inter-confederation Play-off: Australia 0-0 (a.e.t) Peru—Australia wins 5-4 on penalties

Denmark

Nickname: De Rød-Hvide (“The Red and Whites”) & Danish Dynamite

Head Coach: Kasper Hjulmand

Players to Watch

• Kasper Dolberg (25): Midfielder, Sevilla FC

• Christian Eriksen (30): Midfielder, Manchester United

• Simon Kjaer (33): Defender, AC Milan

Qualification Run

• Round 1: 9W, 0D, 1L—27 PTS and 1st place in UEFA Group F

Tunisia

Nickname: Les Aigles de Carthage (“The Eagles of Carthage” in French)

Head Coach: Jalel Kadri

Players to Watch

• Wahbi Khazri (31): Forward, Montpellier Hérault SC

• Ellyes Skhri (27): Midfielder, 1. FC Köln

• Montassar Talbi (24): Defender, FC Lorient

Qualification Run

• Round 2: 4W, 1D, 1L—13 PTS and 1st place in CAF Group B

• Round 3: Playoffs

  • Leg 1: Mali 0-1 Tunisia

  • Leg 2: Tunisia 0-0 Mali

•  Final: Tunisia 1-0 Mali

Group Table Predictions

1. Denmark: 2W, 1D, 0L, 7 PTS

2. France: 2W, 0D, 1L, 6 PTS

3. Tunisia: 0W, 2D, 1L, 2 PTS

4. Australia: 0W, 1D, 2L, 1 PTS