France vs Denmark World Cup lineup, starting 11 for Group D match at Qatar 2022

David Lynch

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France vs Denmark World Cup lineup, starting 11 for Group D match at Qatar 2022 image

France made a perfect start to their bid to retain the World Cup, as they thrashed Australia 4-1 in their opening Group D fixture.

After falling behind early on, the world champions simply moved through the gears to blow Graham Arnold's men away and send out a message to their tournament rivals.

Next up is a Denmark side who huffed and puffed but without any end result in drawing 0-0 with Tunisia in their opener, and who need to get points on the board.

Below are the confirmed lineups for both teams ahead of the match at Stadium 974.

MORE: France vs. Denmark World Cup time, live stream, TV channel, lineups, odds

France vs Denmark starting lineups

France coach Didier Deschamps has a difficult decision to make over whether to change a winning team when his side meet the Danes.

Ibrahima Konate was preferred to the vastly more experienced Raphael Varane in defence for the opening game against Australia, but the latter is fit and raring to go for this one.

"He could have played, he was ready, he was fit. We discussed it with him," Deschamps said of Varane.

"He was fit for the first game and he's fit for the second game. We will have to make that decision. The main thing is that he's fit and ready."

MORE: Complete World Cup injury tracker, injuries for all 32 teams

France confirmed starting 11

France (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. Lloris (GK) – 5. Kounde, 4. Varane, 18. Upamecano, 22. T. Hernandez – 8. Tchouameni, 14. Rabiot – 11. Dembele, 7. Griezmann, 10. Mbappe – 9. Giroud  

  • Injured: Benzema, L. Hernandez, Coman
  • Suspended: none

Deschamps was forced into at least one change at the back after Lucas Hernandez suffered a knee injury that has ruled him out of the rest of the tournament. He joins Karim Benzema in taking no further part, after the Ballon d'Or winner was ruled out on the eve of the tournament.

Hernandez's brother, Theo, will be his replacement, while Kingsley Coman was the only other doubt after missing training on Friday, and he missed the lineup as well. Jules Kounde comes in at right-back to replace Benjamin Pavard.

Denmark confirmed starting 11

Denmark (3-4-3, right to left): 1. Schmeichel (GK) – 2. Andersen, 3. Nelsson, 6. A. Christensen – 5. Maehle, 23. Hojbjerg, 10. Eriksen, 13. Kristensen — 14 Damsgaard, 21. Cornelius, 25 Lindstrom.

  • Injured: Delaney
  • Suspended: none

Thomas Delaney is set to miss the remainder of the World Cup after suffering a knee injury against Tunisia.

Head coach Kasper Hjulmand has made a complete round of changes, many of them eye-popping. He's kept his three-CB formation, but has sat captain Simon Kjaer, with Galatasaray defender Victor Nelsson coming in to replace him. Also benched is Kasper Dolberg who is sat alongside both attackers who played alongside him in the opener.

In their places come a trio of reinforcements in Andreas Cornelius, Mikkel Damsgaard, and Jesper Lindstrom.

France vs Denmark World Cup squads

France

Position No. Player Club Age Caps
GK 23 Alphonse Areola West Ham (ENG) 29 5
GK 1 Hugo Lloris Tottenham (ENG) 35 139
GK 16 Steve Mandanda Rennes (FRA) 37 34
DEF 3 Axel Disasi Monaco (FRA) 24 0
DEF 21 Lucas Hernandez Bayern Munich (FRA) 26 32
DEF 22 Theo Hernandez AC Milan (ITA) 25 7
DEF 24 Ibrahima Konate Liverpool (ENG) 23 2
DEF 5 Jules Kounde Barcelona (SPA) 23 12
DEF 2 Benjamin Pavard Bayern Munich (GER) 26 46
DEF 17 William Saliba Arsenal (ENG) 21 7
DEF 18 Dayot Upamecano Bayern Munich (GER) 23 7
DEF 4 Raphael Varane Manchester United (ENG) 29 87
MID 25 Eduardo Camavinga Real Madrid (SPA) 19 4
MID 13 Youssouf Fofana AS Monaco (FRA) 23 2
MID 6 Matteo Guendouzi Marseille (FRA) 23 6
MID 14 Adrien Rabiot Juventus (ITA) 27 29
MID 8 Aurelien Tchouameni Real Madrid (SPA) 22 14
MID 15 Jordan Veretout Marseille (FRA) 29 5
FWD 11 Ousmane Dembele Barcelona (FRA) 25 28
FWD 20 Kingsley Coman Bayern Munich (GER) 26 40
FWD 9 Olivier Giroud AC Milan (ITA) 36 114
FWD 7 Antoine Griezmann Atletico Madrid (SPA) 31 110
FWD 10 Kylian Mbappe PSG (FRA) 23 59
FWD 26 Marcus Thuram Bor. M'Gladbach (GER) 25 4
FWD 12 Randal Kolo Muani Monaco (FRA) 23 2

Denmark

Position No. Player Club Age Caps
GK 1 Kasper Schmeichel Nice (FRA)  35 86
GK 16 Oliver Christensen  Hertha Berlin (GER) 23 1
GK 22 Frederik Ronnow  Union Berlin (GER) 30 8
DEF 6 Andreas Christensen Barcelona (SPA)  26 58
DEF 4 Simon Kjaer AC Milan (ITA) 33 121
DEF 17 Jens Stryger Larsen Trabzonspor (TUR) 31 49
DEF 2 Joachim Andersen Crystal Palace (ENG) 26 19
DEF 3 Victor Nelsson  Galatasaray (TUR) 24 7
DEF 13 Rasmus Kristensen Leeds United (ENG) 25 10
DEF 26 Alexander Bah Benfica (POR) 24 4
DEF 5 Joakim Maehle Atalanta (ITA) 25 31
DEF 18 Daniel Wass Brondby (DEN) 33 44
MID 8 Thomas Delaney  Sevilla (SPA)  26 20
MID 10 Christian Eriksen Manchester United (ENG) 30 117
MID 23 Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg Tottenham (ENG)  27 60
MID 14 Mikkel Damsgaard Brentford (ENG) 22 18
MID 15 Christian Norgaard Brentford (ENG)  28 17
MID 7 Mathias Jensen  Brentford (ENG) 26 20
MID 25 Jesper Lindstrom Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) 22 6
MID 24 Robert Skov Hoffenheim (GER) 26 11
MID 11 Andreas Skov Olsen Club Brugge (BEL) 22 23
FWD 19 Jonas Wind Wolfsburg (GER)  23 15
FWD 21 Andreas Cornelius  Copenhagen (DEN) 29 41
FWD 9 Martin Braithwaite  Espanyol (SPA)  31 62
FWD 20 Yussuf Poulsen RB Leipzig  (GER)  28 68
FWD 12 Kasper Dolberg  Sevilla (SPA) 25 37

David Lynch

David Lynch Photo

David Lynch is a freelance football journalist primarily covering Liverpool FC. He has reported on the the Reds for over a decade for publications such as the Sunday Mirror and Evening Standard, carving out a reputation as a trusted voice on all things Anfield in the process. Having followed Liverpool across England and Europe over the course of his career, David has filed from illustrious venues such as Camp Nou, the Allianz Arena and the Estadio do Dragao, as well as from multiple Champions League finals.