France gets a very favorable draw for Group C at the World Cup in Russia as they are the runaway favorites. Denmark, Peru and Australia should make for an entertaining battle for second place and if France stumbles, there could be fireworks.
France
Odds To Win Group C: 1.29
France won the World Cup in 1998 and were runners-up in 2006, and they won their UEFA group to qualify. France has some of the best talent in the world and most of it is young, led by midfielder Paul Pogba, who will be 25 by the World Cup. Fellow midfielder N’Golo Kante will be 27, and Antoine Griezmann (who led France with four goals in qualification) will be 27, the oldest of a group of strikers that should all be very good. However, France has some holes in defense in front of captain and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, and France has an issue with playing down to their competition. At their best, France is one of the top two or three teams in the world, but they can be maddening. They should have enough to win this group easily enough, but anything less than the final four will be a bitter disappointment.
Denmark
Odds To Win Group C: 5.00
Denmark’s best finish at the World Cup was the quarterfinals in 1998, and they’re back after missing out in 2014. They beat Ireland in a playoff to get here, and it was due to a hat trick from midfielder Christian Eriksen, who scored eight goals. Eriksen will be 26 by the World Cup and he is their best player, and fellow midfielder Thomas Delaney will be 27. Denmark is a well-drilled team that don’t beat themselves, but they are a little too dependent on Eriksen to pull the strings. If he isn’t playing well, Denmark is in trouble.
Peru
Odds To Win Group C: 10.00
Peru qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1982, and their best result came in 1970, when they went to the quarterfinals. They beat New Zealand in a two-legged playoff to go to Russia, and they’re going to be a tricky team in this group. Striker Edinson Flores led the team with five goals, and he’ll only be 24 by next summer, while fellow striker Jefferson Farfan will be 33 and had three goals. Christian Cueva is 26 and adds goals from midfield. If the back of the team can hold up, Peru will be a dangerous team in Russia.
Australia
Odds To Win Group C: 17.00
Australia has qualified for four World Cups in a row now and went to the Round of 16 in 2006, and they beat the Solomon Islands in the OFC final to go to Russia. However, their top scorers are captain and midfielder Mile Jedinak is 33 and striker Tim Cahill is 38. Also, as of December, Australia doesn’t have a manager as Ange Postecogglou resigned. Australia has to get some in charge quickly so they can start figuring out how they’re going to line up next summer, and in a tough group that might hurt them a lot.
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