Morning all, and here we go again. I'd love to regale you with tales and predictions of derring--do, but we're wise to this now. This is going to be another portion of circumspection because that's generally how group stages are and particularly how these teams are. Australia can't afford to lose and know that if France beat Peru, their decisive game will be against a team already out, while Denmark will want to reduce the chaos to allow their class to prevail and take them through. Still, it's Thursday lunchtime and it's football, and their ain't no C in that.

World Cup / Group Stage

Solidarity Samara Arena / 21.06.2018

Denmark

Completed

Australia

C. Eriksen(7')

M. Jedinak(38' PEN)

Live

Live Updates

ByKevin Coulson

Updated 21/06/2018 at 13:52 GMT

26'

Behich does well to get away from Stryger and crosses into the box. No one can get on the end of it, but then Risdon put the ball back in ... and again, no one can get on the end of it.

24'

What a ball! What a miss! Nice from Denmark, moving the ball wide to Dalsgaard of Brentford, who whips over a devilish cross that's perfect for Jorgensen. But perhaps put off by Sainsbury's boot close to his ear, he marches onto it and smashes a header wide.

23'

Rogic is starting to have an influence, first fouled for a free-kick that comes to nothing, then bursting through midfield before being crowded out.

22'

Sisto finds himself some space and as the ball bounces across him, he lashes a shot with fair power but straight at Ryan, who nonetheless contrives not to hold it.

20'

Better from the Ockers. Rogic breaks through midfield and slides wide to Kruse, who doesn't measure his run properly, allowing Kjaer to slide in, and play the ball off his shin to earn another goalkick.

19'

But here they come, getting Rogic on the ball 25 yards from goal, left-hand side. He slides a ball between two defenders for Kruse, but a third appears to get in his road and a goalkick doth ensue.

18'

Australia are struggling to get into this. I'm not sure what their plan is, but it's not really discernible, and isn't exploiting their midfield, the strongest element of their team.

16'

Mooy fouls Sisto 35 yards out and Eriksen has another chance to stick a ball into the box. He does, but Sainsbury, or Sainos as I'm certain he's known, thunks a header clear.

15'

Christian Eriksen has 17 goals in his last 19 internationals; only Ronaldo and Lewandowski scored more than he did in European qualification.

15'

14'

Australia look pretty solid in the main, which is to say that the Denmark goal was necessarily brilliant.

12'

Australia are sitting off Denmark in possession, only engaging when they cross halfway. Eriksen seems to wandering about wherever he fancies, without a man-marker following him.

11'

Australia power forward in pursuit of an equaliser, but get nowhere. They need to hang in there because Denmark are far better than them at the moment.

GOAL! A LOVELY GOAL! Denmark 1-0 Australia (Eriksen) Mooy doesn't clear properly and Delaney heads into Jorgensen, who holds up well before flick-cushioning beautifully into the path of Eriksen, on the turn. The ball bounces up, but that doesn't bother yerman, who cuts across it on the rise, sending a jazzer flaying past Ryan and into the roof of the net. That was a very difficult finish made to look very easy.

All Denmark in the early stages, but then Leckie intercepts a loose pass down the touchline and powers forward, slipping the ball inside to Nabbout who holds it up and finds Rogic. He shoots and the ball is deflected behind ... the corner then picks out Leckie, who powers a free header over the bar. That was a decent chance.

Australia enjoy some possession as the crowd cheer their every touch. It's not unannoying.

To accompany your enjoyment...

The corner goes short to Sisto, who curls in a further dangerous ball, but falling backwards, Delaney can only head wide.

Kruse fouls Dalsgaard, giving Eriksen an early opportunity to put a ball into the box. He looks for Kjaer and nearly finds him, but aims just to high and Milligan, playing in his fourth World Cup, heads behind.

Denmark set us away!

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