France top Group C, Denmark also advance

France and Denmark played out the first goalless draw of the World Cup.

The result, coupled with Australia’s failure to beat Peru, meant Les Bleus finished as Group C winners, while Denmark ensured they will join them in the round of 16.

In possibly the worst match of the tournament so far, neither side seemed motivated to build some pre-knockout momentum.

The lacklustre, laboured pace of the game – despite it being a battle for top spot – left the travelling fans exasperated. Frustrated whistling, Mexican waves and ironic ‘ole’ cheers for every pass dominated a match that certainly won’t live long in the memory.

France, still yet to reflect the hype around an auspicious squad in their performances, had the opportunity to impress, and show their supporters why they are considered a favourite to lift the trophy for the first time since 1998.

Instead tensions rose and further questions will be asked.

Whether it was a clever game of trying to avoid 1^st place to dodge a potential round of 16 meeting with Argentina, simply a poor display or a less energetic outing to reserve fuel for the knockouts, it was a baffling French exhibition.

Denmark weren’t much better.

The Danes were handed a chance, by the struggling Australians, to leave behind initial qualms of failing to reach the top two.

A mundane France were there for the taking, however Denmark chose to sit back and never gained any sort of vibrancy. It made for a drab encounter.

Finishing at the summit of the group would have given Age Hareide’s men a platform. But once again, the prospect of Argentina might have deterred them. The Argentines are out of sorts, and at the time of kick off weren’t sure of their fate.

All the ingredients for a sluggish game

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Had Australia been winning, this match would probably have been a different occasion altogether.

But Peru, through a neat Andre Carrillo finish, left the Socceroos with a mountain to climb. It proved insurmountable.

The Aussies were eliminated without chalking up a single win.

Denmark received news from the other match, and hence never needed to exit first gear.

France had the same mentality, and the wholesale changes Didier Deschamps made to his starting eleven suggested even before kick off, that Les Bleus wouldn’t strive to clinch a third successive win.

Nabil Fekir, Kylian Mbappe and Paul Pogba – a star performer against Peru – were all left on the bench, and their replacements hardly illuminated affairs.

The incredible squad depth France possess had long been lauded in the build-up to a World Cup that could be defining for them. However we are still waiting to see anything indicative of what they can produce.

Chief doubts say that they are, in brutal terms, too pragmatic to emerge as World Cup winners. Or maybe they are just yet to hit their peak.

Improvements need making

Perhaps this encounter is a difficult one to judge the European nations, but it has been all too emblematic of them throughout the tournament.

Peru outplayed Denmark in their opener, and a steadfast Danish defence was necessary to get them across the line. And France have been below the standard expected.

Going deeper into the competition, these flaws will be exposed. So far we haven’t seen the Danes unleash enough firepower to trouble any of the juggernauts. The opportunity to stamp their authority over esteemed giant France was there, although it was one they chose to pass up.

This clash might have been a dead rubber, especially with events in the Australia vs Peru game detracting further from the occasion, but its painful tepidity was beyond anything ever witnessed in a World Cup.

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Describe this 0-0 draw in one word.