Is “Danish Dynamite” finally going to explode?
As at the 2018 World Cup, France, Denmark and Australia were drawn into a joint World Cup preliminary round group. The statistical probability of three of the same teams meeting in a preliminary round group at two consecutive World Cups is very low. Quite in contrast to the probability that the group favourites France and Denmark will prevail once again this time.
To do that, however, the Australia vs. Denmark bet on a victory for the Scandinavians would have to be crowned with success. After only one point from the first two group games, Denmark already has its back to the wall. The situation is completely different for Australia. After the surprising victory against Tunisia, Graham Arnold’s team could already be enough for a point in the World Cup round of 16.
The Australia vs Denmark prediction of the best bookmakers is clearly on the side of the Northern Europeans. Only low odds can be found for a win by the Danes, while a draw or even a victory by the team from Down Under would be rewarded with incomparably higher odds.
Australia – Statistics & current form
Before the tournament began, the team from Down Under was thought to have the slimmest of chances of reaching the World Cup round of 16 in the heavily stacked Group D. After the expected opening defeat against defending champions France, which once again showed the big defensive problems against opponents at the absolute top level, Graham Arnold’s team then surprised with a win against Tunisia on the second matchday.
Thus, before the last group matchday, Australia still have the chance to advance to the last 16 of the World Cup. The bookmakers are nevertheless sceptical about a success for the Arnold eleven. For Australia against Denmark, high odds can be found for an Australian success.
Third win overall at a World Cup
After their rather poor performance in the World Cup qualifiers, it was not necessarily expected that Australia would fight for a possible place in the last 16 in their last group match. The victory against the “Eagles of Carthage” was only the third win ever for Australia at a World Cup.
The fact that they even managed to keep a clean sheet at the back was not something that had been foreseen in advance. The “Socceroos” had only managed to keep a clean sheet once before in all 17 World Cup matches. Even though Tunisia remained offensively harmless for long stretches, the victory should have given the Australians new self-confidence for the decisive group match against Denmark.
With the Danes, Australia will now face a different calibre than Tunisia. Against world champions France, the problems of the “Aussies” were already visible against opponents at the top European level. The defence in particular was unable to cope with the pace of the French. But at least they have good memories of their upcoming opponents.
At the last World Cup, the Australians held the Danes to a draw in their group match. Nevertheless, we are making a prediction for Australia against Denmark on the Scandinavians, who are under pressure and are much stronger individually. If the Hjulmand team can bring their qualities to the pitch, a victory with more than a one-goal lead seems likely. Arnold can draw on a full complement of players for the decisive group match.
Predicted line-up of Australia:
Ryan, Behich, Rowles, Souttar, Atkinson, Mooy, Goodwin, McGree, Irvine, Leckie, Duke
Last matches played by Australia:
WM Group D
30/11/2022 – Australia 1 – 0 Denmark
26/11/2022 – Tunisia 0 – 1 Australia
23/11/2022 – France 4 – 1 Australia
Friendlies
25/09/2022 – New Zealand 0 – 2 Australia
22/09/2022 – Australia 1 – 0 New Zealand
Denmark – Statistics & current form
With 27 out of 30 possible points in the European World Cup qualification, the Danes entered the World Cup finals more than confidently. In addition, they had the best goal difference of all European teams in the qualification. However, the start to the World Cup was bumpy.
Against a strongly defending Tunisia, the highly praised offensive of “Danish Dynamite” hardly found any gaps. In the end, they had to settle for a goalless draw against the Africans. And against the world champions France, they ended up without a point despite an appealing performance and a great fight.
Only a win counts
The pressure is now on against the supposedly weakest opponent in the group in the last and decisive group game. At least the bookmakers are relatively sure that Denmark will win the last group match. The Australia vs. Denmark betting odds indicate a clear favourite role for the Hjulmand eleven, which can definitely be signed as such.
Only a win can save the Danes from the last 16. Should Tunisia unexpectedly win their parallel match against a possible France B team, they would be level on points with the Africans.
Since the direct comparison did not find a winner either, the goal difference could still become decisive. For these reasons, we expect a courageous, attacking Danish team that will take full risk in this match. Therefore, the Australia vs. Denmark betting on a few goals in the course of the match seems promising. Only Delaney will be missing in the decisive group match.
Predicted line-up of Denmark:
Schmeichel, Nelsson, Christensen, Andersen, Maehle, Eriksen, Hojbjerg, Kristensen, Damsgaard, Lindström, Cornelius
Last matches played by Denmark:
WM Group D
30/11/2022 – Australia 1 – 0 Denmark
26/11/2022 – France 2 – 1 Denmark
22/11/2022 – Denmark 0 – 0 Tunisia
UEFA Nations League A Grp. 1
26/09/2022 – Denmark 2 – 0 France
23/09/2022 – Croatia 2 – 1 Denmark
Australia – Denmark Direct comparison / H2H balance
Only four times the duel Australia vs Denmark took place. The only duel at a World Cup took place four years ago in Russia. At that time, the “Socceroos” wrestled a point from the Danes in the group phase. Otherwise, there are only three friendly matches between the two teams, of which the Danish Dynamite won two and Australia one.
The Hjulmand eleven will go into the decisive final group match of this World Cup as clear favourites.
Australia – Denmark Tip
High-tension in Group D – after France have already qualified for the last 16 as top of the group, all the teams behind them can still hope to reach the last 16. Tunisia probably holds the worst cards. Even against an expected B-team of the French, in order to spare some players for the upcoming tasks, it will be difficult to win. A point against Denmark could be enough for Australia to advance.
Denmark, on the other hand, must win and would qualify with a win if Tunisia does not win. We assume that the qualitatively superior Danes will succeed. Despite the defeat, the match against world champion France was a step in the right direction.
If the Scandinavians can bring this performance back on the pitch against Australia, the Australia vs Denmark prediction for a Danish victory is very likely to be correct. A victory with more than a one-goal lead then also seems likely, which is why we are sending the favourites into the race with a small Asian handicap of -0.75.
The Danes’ offensive, which was so strong in qualifying, has only scored one goal in the tournament so far. Against the shaky defence of the team from Down Under, there should be some spaces for the Danes. The Socceroos have conceded a total of 18 goals in their last eight World Cup matches.
