France clash with Denmark in both sides’ crucial second Group A game at the Qatar World Cup.
After four years as reigning world champions, France are aiming to defend their crown in Qatar, and started well with a 4-1 win against Australia, while Denmark played out a 0-0 draw against Tunisia.
But it hasn’t been all smooth sailing for Didier Deschamps’ side since their triumph in Russia back in 2018, with Les Bleus dumped out of last year’s Euros by Switzerland, and flattering to deceive in the Nations League.
With Karim Benzema, Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kante, Christopher Nkunku and Presnel Kimpembe missing the tournament through injury, the France manager will not be at full strength in the Middle East.
Denmark, inspired by the experienced Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen, will be hoping for a repeat result from their two Nations League fixtures this summer – which saw the Scandinavian side win 2-1 in June and 2-0 in September.
With the clash quickly approaching, Sportsmail takes you through everything you need to know below.
France will face Denmark on Saturday – below is everything you need to know before the game
When is France vs Denmark?
The match takes place on Saturday, November 26.
It will kick off at 4pm UK time, 11am US time and 3am on Sunday morning Australia time.
How to watch the match
The game between France and Denmark will be aired live on ITV for UK viewers. If you are looking to stream the game, you need to head to ITV Hub. The game will be free to watch for all UK viewers with a TV License.
Meanwhile, the following stations will be airing the game for American viewers: SiriusXM FC, UFORIA App, Foxsports.com, Peacock, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, Sling, Fox Sports 1, FOX Sports App, Telemundo.
The Danes will want a repeat of the Nations League clash in September, where they won 2-0
Australian viewers can tune into the game via SBS, who will be televising every match during the 2022 World Cup. SBS On Demand will also stream the France vs Denmark fixture for those on the move.
If you’re unable to watch the game live, you can relive the action via the FIFA YouTube Channel (Worldwide). The official YouTube channel will be posting highlight reels after each game.
UK: ITV and ITV Hub.
US: SiriusXM FC, UFORIA App, Foxsports.com, Peacock, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, Sling, Fox Sports 1, FOX Sports App, Telemundo.
Australia: SBS and SBS On Demand.
Where is France vs Denmark being played?
Stadium 974 in Ras Abu Aboud, Doha, will play host to the match.
The only ever temporary stadium in World Cup history – constructed of recycled shipping containers – it has an official capacity of 40,000.
Stadium 974 in Doha will host the clash between the two sides on Saturday, November 26
Group D table
After the first round of matches, France lie top of Group D after their thrashing of Australia, with attackers Kylian Mbappe and Olivier Giroud to the fore.
Denmark are level on points with their opponents from their group-stage opener, Tunisia, following their 0-0 draw, with Australia bottom of the table.
With France favourites to qualify, the Scandinavian side know even a point would go a long way to ensure they can potentially qualify in second place – setting up a possible quarter-final tie with England.
France top World Cup Group D (pictured) after the first round of fixtures, with Denmark third
France vs Denmark: Team news
France squad
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Alphonse Areola (West Ham), Steve Mandanda (Rennes).
Defenders: Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Axel Disasi (Monaco), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool), Jules Kounde (Barcelona), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern), Raphael Varane (Man United).
Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Youssouf Fofana (Monaco), Matteo Guendouzi (Marseille), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real), Jordan Veretout (Marseille), Marcus Thuram (Borussia Monchengladbach).
Forwards: Kingsley Coman (Bayern), Olivier Giroud (AC Milan), Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona), Kylian Mbappe (PSG), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Randal Kolo Muani (Eintracht Frankfurt).
Lucas Hernandez suffered a painful-looking knee injury and so may be replaced by his brother Theo from the start of the game. Defender Raphael Varane will hope to be fit enough to come in to central defence.
The rest of the team could stay the same.
France coach Didier Deschamps will hope his side can emulate their confident win vs Australia
Denmark squad
Goalkeepers: Kasper Schmeichel (Nice), Oliver Christensen (Hertha Berlin), Frederik Ronnow (Union Berlin).
Defenders: Simon Kjaer (AC Milan), Joachim Andersen (Crystal Palace), Joakim Maehle (Atalanta), Andreas Christensen (Barcelona), Rasmus Kristensen (Leeds United), Jens Stryger Larsen (Trabzonspor), Victor Nelsson (Galatasaray), Daniel Wass (Brondby), Alexander Bah (Benfica).
Midfielders: Thomas Delaney (Sevilla), Mathias Jensen (Brentford), Christian Eriksen (Manchester United), Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Tottenham), Robert Skov (Hoffenheim), Christian Norgaard (Brentford).
Forwards: Andreas Skov Olsen (Club Brugge), Jesper Lindstrom (Eintracht Frankfurt), Andreas Cornelius (Copenhagen), Martin Braithwaite (Espanyol), Kasper Dolberg (Sevilla), Mikkel Damsgaard (Brentford), Jonas Wind (Wolfsburg), Yussuf Poulsen (RB Leipzig).
Denmark played a back five against Tunisia but switched things up to a back four when they were pushing for a goal.
They are likely to start the same way, perhaps with Jesper Lindstrom or Andreas Cornelius up top instead of Andreas Skov Olsen.
Andreas Cornelius is pushing to start up front for the Danes ahead of Andreas Skov Olsen
Head-to-head record
The two European sides have faced off 16 times in their history, ranging from November 1973 to September of this year.
France had a strong recent record and had only lost once in eight matches from 1998 – a 2-1 win at the tournament Les Bleus went on to win – until 2018, when they played out a goalless draw in Russia – another World Cup in which France eventually triumphed.
However, Denmark showed their prowess with a pair of Nations League wins against their more illustrious opponents.
A late Andreas Cornelius goal saw Kasper Hjulmand’s side win in Paris in June, before Kasper Dolberg and Andreas Skov Olsen netted to give the Danes a 2-0 win in Copenhagen two months ago – the final pre-World Cup game for both sides.
Group D fixtures
- Denmark 0-0 Tunisia – Tuesday, November 22
- France 4-1 Australia – Tuesday, November 22
- Tunisia vs Australia – Saturday, November 26
- France vs Denmark – Saturday, November 26
- Tunisia vs France – Wednesday, November 30
- Australia vs Denmark – Wednesday, November 30
