A much-changed Les Blues side held the Danes to a 0-0 draw to ensure they topped Group C.
France forward Antoine Griezmann (Photo: AFP)
A much-changed France side were held to a 0-0 draw by Denmark in their 2018 FIFA World Cup Group C match on Tuesday, with both teams progressing to the knockout stages.
Didier Deschamps made six changes to the side that beat Peru, with the likes of Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe warming the bench.
France, already qualified, were talking a risk as a loss would have seen them come second, but the Danes struggled to properly test Steve Mandanda at the Luzhniki Stadium.
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Olivier Giroud, making his second consecutive start in Russia, missed the biggest chance of the first-half when he skied his shot over the bar and the action never really warmed up even after the interval.
France continued to dominate possession, but lacked any cutting edge while Denmark threatened intermittently on the counter.
Christian Eriksen had been contentiously denied the opportunity to tap-in the opener and the mercurial midfielder’s set-piece had Les Blues worried, but Mandanda managed to gather.
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Antoine Griezmann looked out of ideas as he toiled and even Kylian Mbappe’s introduction couldn’t liven up proceedings as the match petered out into the first scoreless draw of the tournament.
Nabil Fekir was another substitution who went close to breaking the deadlock with a bright cameo, but his effort could only ripple the side-netting.
France, with seven points from three matches, top Group C and will now face the runner-up of Group D that consists of Argentina, Nigeria, Croatia and Iceland while the Danes will take on the winners of that group.
The Flying Eagles take on Lionel Messi and Co later on Tuesday and one can bet that the entire French side will be watching that clash with keen interest.
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In the other Group C game on the night, Peru, already eliminated, stunned Australia 2-0 to confirm the Socceroos’ exit from Russia.
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