The World Cup champions and Nations League winners France open their Nations League campaign with a home fixture against Denmark at the Stade de France on Friday starting at 19:45GMT.
Match Preview
Can France Begin the Defence of the Nations League with a win against Denmark?
Didier Deschamps will be looking for a winning start to the defense of their title as this will also double up as a preparation for the defense of their World Cup title in Qatar in November.
Playing at home at the Sade de France, Le Bleus will focus on providing a dominant and entertaining performance as they look to stamp their authority on Group A of the Nations League campaign, which also includes Austria and Croatia.
Didier Deschamps will focus on ensuring all the players are not complacent and that they take Denmark seriously because of the danger they pose as highlighted by their run to the UEFA Euros where they were knocked out at the semi-final stage by England.
Can Denmark Upset the World Champions at the Stade de France?
Denmark will draw massive inspiration from their Euros run to the semi-final stage. The match against France will be significant because it will also be replicated on their matchday 2 in their World Cup Group D in Qatar in November.
Apart from this being a Nations League opener, the clash with France will be a rehearsal for their Work Cup meeting in Qatar as they will look to qualify from Group D alongside Tunisia and Wales/Scotland/Ukraine.
Denmark will be confident of stunning the World Cup champions at the Stade de France as they look to make a winning start to their Nations League campaign.
Form Guide
France
Le Bleus are unbeaten in their last ten outings in international football; they have won five times while drawing five times.
These ten matches comprise the UEFA Euros, World Cup Qualifiers, and two friendly matches. These results demonstrate France’s good form heading into their League of Nations opener against Denmark on Friday.
The last two matches for Le Bleus have been build-up friendlies against Ivory Coast and South Africa. Didier Deschamps’ men beat Ivory Coast 2-1 in a close match and defeated South Africa 5-0 with Bafana Bafana having a man sent off.
Didier Deschamps will hope that Le Bleus take this brilliant form into the clash with Denmark on Friday.
Denmark
Kasper Hjulmand’s men have won seven matches and lost three in their ten outings in international football.
The three defeats came against England at the UEFA Euros semi-final stage where they lost 2-1 against England; against Scotland where they lost 2-0 in the World Cup Qualifiers on matchday 10; and lost 4-2 against the Netherlands in a friendly match.
In their last two friendly matches building up to the start of the Nations League, Denmark won one and lost one. Kasper Hjulmand will be hoping that his side will be ready to take on the World Champions.
Possible Starting Lineups
France
Lloris; D. Upamecano, K. Zouma, J. Kounde; L. Digne, A. Tchouameni, A. Rabiot, L. Dubois; A. Griezman; K. Mbappe, K. Benzema
Denmark
Schmeichel; R. Nissen, J. Andersen, J. Vestergaard, J. Maehle; C. Eriksen, C. Norgaard, P. Hojbjerg; A. S. Olsen, K. Dolberg, J. Lindstrom
Players to Watch
K. Benzema
The Real Madrid forward, who led Los Blancos to La Liga and Champions League triumphs, will be a major asset for Le Bleus as they take on Denmark on Friday and throughout the Nations League campaign ahead of the World Cup in Qatar.
Benzema brings experience, a goal threat, and a capacity to lead the line and link up with other attackers to the French national team.
The striker will be a massive threat in the match against Denmark.
C. Eriksen
The midfielder has made a massive recovery from the health issue that threatened his career and has been a sensation for Brentford as they fought to comfortably survive in the Premier League.
The 30-year-old is a creative force for Denmark from midfield as he helps in keeping possession and starting attacks with his wide range of passing.
Prediction
France will dominate possession and proceedings at the Stade de France as they will keep the lion’s share of possession and dictate the tempo.
Denmark will absorb the pressure and build their play through quick passing combined with fast breaks.
Le Bleus are favoured to win the match and take all three points.
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