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World Cup Group D Odds, Preview and Tips

The World Cup’s toughest section gets under way with Denmark v Tunisia and France v Australia, the holders out to become the first team to win back-to-back titles since Brazil all the way back in 1962.

World Cup Group D matchday 1 odds point to wins for France and Denmark, but where is the value?

Denmark v Tunisia

• When? Tuesday, 22nd November, 13:00 GMT
• Where? Education City Stadium
• Broadcast: ITV

After a surprise run to the semi-finals at Euro 2020 a year ago, many believe Denmark are poised for another deep tournament run in Qatar. Their chances of success are boosted by the return to action of star midfielder Christian Eriksen, who collapsed in a group game during the Euro 2020 finals.

Eriksen lining up for Denmark at the World Cup is set to be one of the most emotional moments of the tournament, with the Manchester United midfielder also in good form. He scored in his last Premier League appearance and it would be a wonderful story were he to find the net here. Eriksen to score any time against Tunisia is sure to be a popular pick at a tempting price of 9/4 with 888Sport.

Coach Kasper Hjulmand can call upon an experienced spine of players including goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and midfielder Pierre-Emile Hjojberg, who is having a solid season with Tottenham.

Tunisia, meanwhile, are likely to lack quality in attack though Wahbi Khazi has match-winning ability on his day. The north African outfit are at the World Cup for the sixth time but they have never been any further than the group stage. Indeed, they have only won two of their 15 World Cup matches.

Denmark games do tend to be tight. In their Nations League campaign earlier this year – they finished second in a tough group – none of their six goals saw more than three goals being scored. Under 2.5 goals is an obvious place to start in the World Cup Group D odds, offered at 4/6 by 888Sport.

With Denmark being heavy favourites in the World Cup Group D matchday 1 betting, another way to side with them to come out on top could be to back them to keep a clean sheet. Denmark have shut out eight of their past 11 opponents and Tunisia are unlikely to offer much of a goal threat here. Denmark to win to nil can be backed at a very handy price of 21/20 with 888Sport for this game.

France v Australia

• When? Tuesday, 22nd November, 19:00 GMT
• Where? Al Wakrah Sports Club
• Broadcast: BBC One

Holders France are among the World Cup betting favourites and they start their Qatar 2022 campaign against outsiders Australia. Les Bleus are a short price in the World Cup Group D matchday 1 odds despite the fact champions have struggled to back up their success at recent World Cups.

Indeed, after France triumphed on home soil back in 1998 they were terrible four years later, famously going out in the group stage after earning a single point without even managing to score.

Injuries have also dealt coach Didier Deschamps a blow, with first-choice midfielders Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante missing out and forcing him to find a new formula in the middle of the park.

Presnel Kimpembe, who was expected to start in the heart of defence, is another injury absentee for France. Nevertheless, an attack of Kylian Mbappe and Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema will cause issues for Australia, while Aurelien Tchoumeni is a more than capable backup for Pogba in midfield.

The Socceroos are at their fifth straight World Cup, but they normally make little impression on the finals. There is some excitement around a talented group led by a savvy coach in Graham Arnold, though, with this World Cup perhaps coming too soon for thrilling Garang Kuol, who will join Newcastle in January. As five of Australia’s last seven internationals have been 0-0 at half-time they certainly have the defensive resilience to cause some frustration for France in this Group D opener.

Draw-France at 14/5 with 888Sport therefore seems a smart selection, with the 4/5 for France to win to nil a decent alternative with the same bookmaker. Since Les Bleus lifted the World Cup in Russia four years ago they have won 31 matches and 19 of them have come with a clean sheet being kept.

Evens for Benzema to score anytime is not the biggest price from 888Sport but this is another good option to mull over from the Group D matchday 1 betting odds as well. From the correct scores option, a 2-0 win for France at a price of 9/2 looks to be a smart selection to think about too.

Author: Jamie Smith