France World Cup draw 2022: Group D results with Denmark, Tunisia, potential Australia match schedule and fixtures

Sean Markus Clifford

France World Cup draw 2022: Group D results with Denmark, Tunisia, potential Australia match schedule and fixtures image

The winners of the last World Cup in 2018, France will be determined to retain the crown, although they will have to fare considerably better than they did at Euro 2020, when they were knocked out at the Round of 16 stage by Switzerland. 

If PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe is at his best then it could make all the difference for Les Bleus, and there is plenty of other international experience also in Didier Deschamps’ talented squad.

France won the 2020-2021 UEFA Nations League by beating Spain in the final and if they can perform as a cohesive unit then they will certainly be amongst the leading contenders for glory again in Qatar.

Their group prospects could well set them up nicely for a run deep into the latter stages, after they were handed one of the potentially easier pools.

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Full draw results | TV schedule | Latest news

France World Cup draw Group D

The reigning world champions will come up against Denmark, Tunisia and the winner of the intercontinental playoff between United Arab Emirates/Australia and Peru.

Facing Denmark in the group stages for the second World Cup in a row — following a 0-0 draw at Russia 2018 — will be a tough test, given the Danes reached the semifinals of the European Championships last year.

Tunisia edged out Mali in their final qualifying tie, but come into the group with a combative side and hopes of causing an upset.

The clash between Peru and either United Arab Emirates/Australia is scheduled for June, to decide who fills the final Group D spot. 

World Cup Group D table & fixtures

Team PTS GP W L D GF GA GD
D1: France 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
D2: AUS/UAE/PER* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
D3: Denmark 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
D4: Tunisia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

* = Intercontinental Playoff winner (Peru vs. Australia/United Arab Emirates)

Group D match schedule

Date Match Time (ET) Stadium
Tue, Nov. 22 Denmark vs. Tunisia 8 a.m. Education City
Tue, Nov. 22 France vs. AUS/UAE/PER 2 p.m. Al Janoub
Sat, Nov. 26 Tunisia vs. AUS/UAE/PER 5 a.m. Al Janoub
Sat, Nov. 26 France vs. Denmark 11 a.m. Stadium 974
Wed, Nov. 30 Tunisia vs. France 10 a.m. Education City
Wed, Nov. 30 AUS/UAE/PER vs. Denmark 10 a.m. Al Janoub

MORE: How does the World Cup draw work in 2022?

France World Cup groups all-time

Year 1st Place 2nd Place 3rd place 4th place
2018 France  Denmark Peru  Australia
2014 France  Switzerland Ecuador Honduras
2010 Uruguay Mexico South Africa France 
2006 Switzerland France  South Africa Togo
2002 Denmark Senegal Uruguay France 
1998 France  Denmark South Africa Saudi Arabia
1986 Soviet Union France  Hungary Canada
1982 England France Czechoslovakia Kuwait
1978 Italy Argentina France  Hungary
1966 England Uruguay Mexico France 
1958 France Yugoslavia Paraguay Scotland
1954 Brazil Yugoslavia France  Mexico
1938 n/a n/a n/a n/a
1934 n/a n/a n/a n/a
1930 Argentina Chile France  Mexico

France World Cup snapshot

  • Current FIFA World Ranking: No. 3 (March 2022)
  • World Cup titles: 2
  • World Cup appearances (last): 15 (Russia 2018)
  • How qualified W-L-D: UEFA Group D winners 5-0-3 (18/3)
  • Record in 2021 W-L-D (Goals Scored/Allowed): 10-0-6 (36/12)
  • Record in 2022 W-L-D (Goals Scored/Allowed): 2-0-0 (7/1)

France 2022 FIFA World Cup preview

Mbappe is the most world-renowned star in the France squad, but he is one of many who could make a difference at the World Cup.

Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris boasts vast experience between the sticks, while Paul Pogba, N'Golo Kante and Karim Benzema will lead from the front in the Gulf region.

  • Star Players: Paul Pogba, Kylian Mbappe, Karim Benzema.
  • Players to Watch: Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, Jules Kounde.
  • Players to play in WCQ: 38
  • Players in Top 5 Euro leagues (% of WCQ pool): 100%

France squad

Strengths

  • Counter-attacking speed
  • Depth of quality in all positions that other national teams don't have
  • World-class strikeforce (Benzema, Mbappe, Griezmann, Giroud, Ben Yedder)

Weaknesses

  • Lack of traditional No. 10
  • Loyalty to certain players
  • Over-reliance on Mbappe

Regular starting XI (formation: 3-4-1-2):

Lloris (GK) — Varane, Kounde, Kimpembe — Pavard, Pogba, Tchouameni, T. Hernandez — Griezmann — Benzema, Mbappe

Name Position Age Club Apps/Goals
Hugo Lloris GK 35 Tottenham 137/0
Steve Mandanda GK 36 Marseille 34/0
Benoit Costil GK 34 Bordeaux 1/0
Mike Maignan GK 26 AC Milan 2/0
Alphonse Areola GK 29 West Ham 3/0
Benjamin Pavard RB 25 Bayern Munich 42/2
Presnel Kimpembe CB 26 PSG 26/0
Jules Kounde CB 23 Sevilla 9/0
Dayot Upamecano CB 23 Bayern Munich 6/1
Raphael Varane CB 28 Man Utd 85/5
Clement Lenglet CB 26 Barcelona 15/1
Nordi Mukiele CB 24 RB Leipzig 1/0
Leo Dubois RB 27 Lyon 13/0
Kurt Zouma CB 27 West Ham 11/1
Lucas Digne LB 28 Aston Villa 43/0
Ferland Mendy LB 26 Real Madrid 7/0
Theo Hernandez LB 24 AC Milan 5/1
Lucas Hernandez LB 26 Bayern Munich 31/0
Jordan Veretout CM 29 Roma 5/0
Paul Pogba CM 29 Manchester United 91/11
Thomas Lemar LW/CM 26 Atletico Madrid 27/4
Aurelien Tchouameni CM 22 Monaco 8/1
Corentin Tolisso CM 27 Bayern Munich 28/2
N'Golo Kante CM 30 Chelsea 52/2
Tanguy Ndombele CM/CAM 25 Lyon 7/0
Adrien Rabiot CM 26 Juventus 24/1
Moussa Sissoko CM 32 Watford 71/2
Matteo Guendouzi CM 22 Marseille 3/1
Moussa Diaby LW 22 Bayer Leverkusen 5/0
Antoine Griezmann ST 31 Atletico Madrid 104/42
Anthony Martial LW/ST 26 Sevilla 30/2
Wissam Ben Yedder ST 31 Monaco 18/3
Olivier Giroud ST 35 AC Milan 112/48
Karim Benzema ST 34 Real Madrid 94/36
Kylian Mbappe ST 23 PSG 53/24
Ousmane Dembele RW 24 Barcelona 27/4
Kingsley Coman RW 25 Bayern Munich 37/5

Who is France's head coach?

  • Manager: Didier Deschamps (France)
  • Date hired: July 8, 2012
  • Record as national team manager (W-L-D): 83-24-19.
  • Major titles since hire: FIFA World Cup 2018, UEFA Nations League 2021.
  • Notable victories: 4-3 vs. Argentina FIFA World Cup 2018, 1-0 vs. Belgium World Cup Semi-Final 2018, 4-2 vs Croatia World Cup Final 2018, 2-1 vs. Spain UEFA Nations League 2021. 

Deschamps has been in charge of France since 2012 and has had quite an impact on the national team. The 1998 World Cup-winning captain has brought great success to Les Bleus, repeating that triumph as a coach in 2018 before rebounding from Euro 2021 disappointment with 2021 Nations League success.

Under his stewardship, France also reached the final of Euro 2016, losing 1-0 to Portugal. The main problems Deschamps experiences usually come back to whether or not he can select the right combinations from the plethora of options at his disposal.

MORE: Teams qualified to 2022 World Cup

France World Cup qualifying results

France finished in first place in UEFA Group D on 18 points, winning five of their eight fixtures in an unbeaten campaign.

They thrashed Kazakhstan by a whopping score of 8-0, one of three consecutive victories to finish qualifying after being held twice by Ukraine in the first five matches.

Date  Opponent H/A Result  Score
24/03/21 Ukraine H Draw 1-1
28/03/21 Kazakhstan A Win 2-0
31/03/21 Bosnia-Herzegovina A Win 1-0
01/09/21 Bosnia-Herzegovina H Draw 1-1
04/09/21 Ukraine A Draw 1-1
07/09/21 Finland H Win 2-0
13/11/21 Kazakhstan H Win 8-0
16/11/21 Finland A Win 2-0

France's World Cup Qualifying Leaders

Category Leader Total
Goals Antoine Griezmann 6
Assists  Mbappe, Coman, T. Hernandez 2
Appearances Lloris, Griezmann 8
Minutes Hugo Lloris 720

Sean Markus Clifford