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World Cup Group D permutations: Who needs what to qualify for the last 16?

:Headline: World Cup Group D permutations: Who needs what to qualify for the last 16?:
Ahead of the final match in Group D, Sports Mole looks at what France, Denmark, Australia and Tunisia need to qualify for the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup.
Sports Mole

The World Cup group stage reaches its conclusion this week, with Group D's final round of matches to be played at 3pm GMT on Wednesday when all four teams take to the pitch for the last time in this section.

France were the first team in the entire competition to book their place in the last 16 after a perfect start to their group-stage campaign, whereas the three other teams in the current holders' group still have a chance of qualifying for the knockout stages.

Australia sit in second place on three points, whilst Denmark and Tunisia have the most to do in order to reach the last 16 as they both have only amassed one point from their opening two matches.

Here, Sports Mole looks at what each team needs to qualify for the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup.



FRANCE

A brilliant second-half brace from Kylian Mbappe for France was enough to beat European rivals Denmark last time out and means the current World Cup champions are top of Group D with six points.

Didier Deschamps's side are already guaranteed a place in the last 16, and only need a point against Tunisia to secure top spot in the section regardless of the result between Australia and the Danes.

It would take an improbable set of results for France to surrender first place in the group, with Les Bleus having to lose to Tunisia and the Socceroos having to beat Denmark whilst also requiring a six-goal margin in goal difference to be overturned.

Given the high likelihood that France will finish as winners of Group D, there could be a repeat of that iconic last-16 tie with Argentina in 2018 if Lionel Scaloni's side finish second in Group C - an exciting prospect for neutrals at least.



AUSTRALIA

Australia enjoyed their first World Cup victory in 12 years after Mitchell Duke's glancing header earned the Socceroos all three points against Tunisia on Saturday, a result that leaves their World Cup destiny in their own hands heading into the final matchday.

Graham Arnold's side will qualify for the knockout stages with a win over Denmark, and could - although it is extremely improbable - finish top of the group if France lose and a six-goal deficit in goal difference between the two sides is clawed back.

A draw against the Danes would be enough to qualify for the last 16 unless Tunisia are able to achieve to shock victory over France, in which case the Carthage Eagles would advance ahead of Australia on goal difference.

A loss for the Aussies in only their fifth-ever meeting with Denmark would see Christian Eriksen and company leapfrog Australia in the standings and force Arnold's men to pack their bags.



DENMARK

Denmark were many people's dark horses before a ball had been kicked at this World Cup, but now face a real battle to secure their place in the last 16.

The Danes must beat Australia to advance to the knockout stages, with three points not enough only if Tunisia manage to defeat France by a greater margin than which Denmark beat the Socceroos.

If Denmark and Tunisia win by the same margin on Wednesday evening, qualification will go down to goals scored, a metric that the Danish Dynamite currently lead by a single strike.

Kasper Hjulmand's side could be the first Danish team to fail to win a game during a World Cup campaign, a title that would not suit a crop of talent who have competed well at the top end of international football over the past few years.



TUNISIA

Tunisia would have targeted their opening two matches against Denmark and Australia as the fixtures in which to get the bulk of their Group D points, but unfortunately for them the Carthage Eagles have just a single point to their name as they approach a daunting assignment against France.

Jalel Kadri must mastermind a historic win against Les Bleus to give his side any chance of qualifying for the last 16, with even three points at Education City Stadium potentially not enough to see Tunisia through.

If a Tunisian win is accompanied by an Australian victory against Denmark then Kadri's side will be knocked out, whereas a Tunisia win combined with a draw between the Aussies and the Danes would see goal difference be the deciding factor to separate Tunisia and the Socceroos.

A Danish victory coupled with a Tunisia win would see those two sides equal on four points and goal difference would come into play again to see who qualifies for the knockout stages.


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Read more about Didier Deschamps Lionel Scaloni Kylian Mbappe Mitchell Duke Graham Arnold Christian Eriksen Kasper Hjulmand Jalel Kadri Football
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