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

David Lynch

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 CorneliusMikkel Damsgaard, and Jesper Lindstrom.

France vs Denmark World Cup squads

France

PositionNo.PlayerClubAgeCaps
GK23Alphonse AreolaWest Ham (ENG)295
GK1Hugo LlorisTottenham (ENG)35139
GK16Steve MandandaRennes (FRA)3734
DEF3Axel DisasiMonaco (FRA)240
DEF21Lucas HernandezBayern Munich (FRA)2632
DEF22Theo HernandezAC Milan (ITA)257
DEF24Ibrahima KonateLiverpool (ENG)232
DEF5Jules KoundeBarcelona (SPA)2312
DEF2Benjamin PavardBayern Munich (GER)2646
DEF17William SalibaArsenal (ENG)217
DEF18Dayot UpamecanoBayern Munich (GER)237
DEF4Raphael VaraneManchester United (ENG)2987
MID25Eduardo CamavingaReal Madrid (SPA)194
MID13Youssouf FofanaAS Monaco (FRA)232
MID6Matteo GuendouziMarseille (FRA)236
MID14Adrien RabiotJuventus (ITA)2729
MID8Aurelien TchouameniReal Madrid (SPA)2214
MID15Jordan VeretoutMarseille (FRA)295
FWD11Ousmane DembeleBarcelona (FRA)2528
FWD20Kingsley ComanBayern Munich (GER)2640
FWD9Olivier GiroudAC Milan (ITA)36114
FWD7Antoine GriezmannAtletico Madrid (SPA)31110
FWD10Kylian MbappePSG (FRA)2359
FWD26Marcus ThuramBor. M'Gladbach (GER)254
FWD12Randal Kolo MuaniMonaco (FRA)232

Denmark

PositionNo.PlayerClubAgeCaps
GK1Kasper SchmeichelNice (FRA) 3586
GK16Oliver Christensen Hertha Berlin (GER)231
GK22Frederik Ronnow Union Berlin (GER)308
DEF6Andreas ChristensenBarcelona (SPA) 2658
DEF4Simon KjaerAC Milan (ITA)33121
DEF17Jens Stryger LarsenTrabzonspor (TUR)3149
DEF2Joachim AndersenCrystal Palace (ENG)2619
DEF3Victor Nelsson Galatasaray (TUR)247
DEF13Rasmus KristensenLeeds United (ENG)2510
DEF26Alexander BahBenfica (POR)244
DEF5Joakim MaehleAtalanta (ITA)2531
DEF18Daniel WassBrondby (DEN)3344
MID8Thomas Delaney Sevilla (SPA) 2620
MID10Christian EriksenManchester United (ENG)30117
MID23Pierre-Emile HojbjergTottenham (ENG) 2760
MID14Mikkel DamsgaardBrentford (ENG)2218
MID15Christian NorgaardBrentford (ENG) 2817
MID7Mathias Jensen Brentford (ENG)2620
MID25Jesper LindstromEintracht Frankfurt (GER)226
MID24Robert SkovHoffenheim (GER)2611
MID11Andreas Skov OlsenClub Brugge (BEL)2223
FWD19Jonas WindWolfsburg (GER) 2315
FWD21Andreas Cornelius Copenhagen (DEN)2941
FWD9Martin Braithwaite Espanyol (SPA) 3162
FWD20Yussuf PoulsenRB Leipzig  (GER) 2868
FWD12Kasper Dolberg Sevilla (SPA)2537

David Lynch

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.