Europe won’t dominate as expected
France are fully expected to win the group comfortably. Anything other than that would be seen as either an underachievement, or a complete failure should they finish outside the top two.
Denmark head into the competition as favourites to finish behind Les Bleus, with luminary Christian Eriksen far and away the most eminent player, on paper, outside of the French squad.
But, Peru are making their first World Cup appearance since 1982, and will surely want to relish it. Their preparations have been strong and the likes of Pablo Guerrero, Andre Carrillo and Jefferson Farfan have the capability to cause problems.
Australia’s 2014 squad was admittedly stale. Relying on veteran Tim Cahill for goals while trying to balance a team with little talent, as well as being in the undisputed group of death, combined to make it a tournament to forget for the Aussies.
On this occasion, though, their production line has produced far more fruitfully.
Tim Cahill makes the 23 again, however Huddersfield midfielder Aaron Mooy, 19-year-old Daniel Arzani and former Newcastle Jets striker Andrew Nabbout are the leading lights of a potentially prosperous Australian future.
The Socceroos will be keen to atone for four years ago, and while Denmark and France cannot anticipate a straightforward route to the knockouts.