Denmark has been tipped to impress in Qatar following their run to the semi-finals of the Euro 2020 last year. They will be favourites to get their Group D campaign off to a winning start against underdogs, Tunisia. The game will be just the second time that the two nations have ever met in an official match, and the first in more than 20 years stretching back to May 2002. Denmark will be making their sixth appearance at a World Cup final after a near-perfect qualifying campaign gathering 9 wins and 1 draw. The Danish federation was hostile to the organization of the tournament in Qatar, but coach Kasper Hjulmand stated his team would now "concentrate on football" after FIFA banned them from training with jerseys bearing the message "Human Rights for All".

Denmark comes in with high ambitions, and their two victories in the UEFA Nations League earlier this year over France, the reigning world champions, was a mark of intent.  Denmark have won their opening group stage game in four of their previous five World Cup appearances only losing on one occasion. They kick off their game against Tunisia in Doha holding an unbeaten run against CAF nations in the World Cup (W2, D2) so belief will likely be sky-high. 

Coincidentally, it will also be the sixth World Cup appearance for Tunisia but expectations on their end are much lower having won only two of their last 15 matches in the competition (D4, L9). Furthermore, Tunisia are still winless against European opposition in the world cup (D3, L7). The opening exchanges could also be decisive given that they’ve conceded first within 15 minutes in three of their last four World Cup matches against UEFA nations currently ranked in FIFA’s top ten. Andreas Skov Olsen has been the most prolific player for the Danes having been very instrumental during the qualifiers. Denmark’s previous four World Cup matches against CAF nations have all seen the game’s opener scored within 16 minutes but it is worth noting that Tunisia became the first African country to win a World Cup match with a 3-1 victory over Mexico in 1978.

 (Image: Khel Now)