France play out drab 0-0 draw against Denmark, progress as Group C’s top two teams
For the first time since the 2018 FIFA World Cup started, two teams played out a drab goal-less draw, but qualified to the knockout stages.
France, who many consider are one of the tournament’s black horses this time around, was unable to break the Danish defence and settled for a 0-0 draw. While France topped the group, Denmark too progressed as the second-best side.
Thirty-six games in Russia had failed to result in a goalless stalemate, but neither France nor Denmark ever looked like scoring in a tedious affair.
France were already assured qualification but wanted to go through in top spot to avoid a likely last-16 clash with in-form Croatia.
Denmark could have only been denied qualification had they lost to France and had Australia beaten Peru in the match being simultaneously played in Sochi.
But with the Peruvians leading 2-0 before the hour in that game, the Moscow clash settled down to little more than a canter.
“It was our objective to ensure we were first out of the group... The objective was achieved,” French coach Didier Deschamps said.
The writing had been on the wall early on, with the play dominated by industry rather than any kind of inspiration.
The Danes built a pattern of firing balls deep before quickly tracking back, while the French kept possession well but struggled throughout with the final ball.
It took more than half an hour before there was any real chance, and then Ousmane Dembele pushed his right foot shot wide of the goal — and of Kasper Schmeichel’s overly elaborate dive.
Jeers and whistles swirled around the frustrated crowd as both sides failed time after time to create any real opportunities, the Danes continuing to defend deep and the French rarely breaking out of a trot.
Few teams will fear either side on the back of this performance but surely there will be better days ahead for both nations when the reality of sudden-death forces their hands.
