"I ran my heart out, boss, I just couldn't do any more."

Well, players at this World Cup won't be able to use such excuses and get away with it if it's not true.

That is because match statistics aren't hard to come by at this year's World Cup in Russia.

Each team has been given access to information from Fifa's optical tracking cameras. The system provides performance data on players, such as how far they run and their positioning on the pitch.

No hiding place then. Find out more with this piece from our friends at Click below.

David Huggan: The Danish royal princess is Australian. Hoping to spot her in the crowd with a viking helmet and inflatable kangaroo #splitloyalties, external

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Our first game starts at 13:00 BST so there's still time to catch the BBC Radio 5 live World Cup Daily Podcast.

Denmark's Ajax midfielder Lasse Schone replaces William Kvist, who was taken off on a stretcher with broken ribs during the team's opener against Peru.

Jonas Knudsen, who flew home to see his baby daughter immediately after Saturday's win, is on the bench.

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Australia name an unchanged XI to from the one that started against France last week.

The tournament's youngest player, 19-year-old Daniel Arzani - introduced during Saturday's defeat - is on the bench again.

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This may well have been the highlight of yesterday's World Cup action.

Watch Iran's Milad Mohammadi makes a bizarre attempt at a forward roll throw-in as his side search for an equaliser with just seconds of their match against Spain remaining.

It reminds me of a Sunday League game I played in when we had a player called Jimmy who could do something similar.

He was a gymnast and we had a throw-in, we all peeled off to the back post, Jimmy sprung into action and I got my head on the epic long throw and scored.

Jimmy tried it again the next week only for the ref to book him for unsporting behaviour and our secret weapon was gone forever.

Image source, Instagram

We've now had a full week of World Cup action, but don't worry, there's still another three weeks left.

Spaghetti hair, fans tidying stadiums and female commentators making history - here are seven things we've loved from the first week of the World Cup.

As always we want your thoughts and observations on all the action so get in touch and tell us what's going to happen today?

On Twitter via the hashtag #bbcworldcup on via text on 81111 is the way to contact us..

Kasper Schmeichel may have a firm grip on Denmark's number one jersey, with five clean sheets on the bounce for his country, but that isn't stopping Jonas Lossl getting excited as he meets up with one of his Huddersfield team-mates today - with Aaron Mooy in the Australia side.

What a few days it has been for Denmark defender Jonas Knudsen after a brief trip home to see his new baby daughter.

His team-mates clubbed together so the Ipswich Town full-back could fly home on a private jet following Saturday's win over Peru and he returned on Monday.

Knudsen's wife Trine gave birth to a girl last Tuesday, several weeks earlier than expected.

"I think you have to remember we are human beings as well as footballers," said goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.

"As a father myself I cannot imagine how hard it was for Jonas getting that message and not being there."

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And here is the Denmark side... Lasse Schone replaces William Kvist, who was taken off a stretcher in the Danes' opener.

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This is how it stands in Group C after one match apiece for all four sides and Denmark will move on to six points with a win over Australia, but they won't be guaranteed their place in the next phase.

However, they might not have to wait too long as they will qualify for the last 16 if France avoid defeat against Peru in the second match at 16:00 BST.

An Australia defeat would not see them eliminated, although they would then need Peru to beat France to stay in the tournament.

Or, alternatively, Australia will move to the top of the group with a win by two goals or more.

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Guy Mowbray
Match of the Day commentator

In the TV commentary positions there are two monitors. One shows the game as you see it at home, while the other is set to 'CIS' (Commentators' Information Service).

For most of the time, this just shows a graphic of the team line-ups and it updates to indicate goalscorers, yellow cards and substitutions.

At this World Cup, the VAR is an additional feature.

Once it's been indicated that the referee and VAR are having a look at something, a yellow highlighted message appears at the bottom of the CIS.

If no review is necessary then "check complete" appears highlighted in green.

If the check then turns into an official review - with the VAR signal having been made by the referee - the yellow CIS message turns red and indicates (or is supposed to!) what the review is for. It's worked pretty well so far.

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Will we see more VAR penalty action today? I certainly wouldn't rule it out. But how does it all work?

Luckily Guy Mowbray can explain for us....

Australia started with a defeat, but gave a good account of themselves against a France team that many people are tipping to win this.

Watch highlights as history was made with VAR and goal-line technology used in the World Cup for the first time during France's 2-1 victory over Australia.

So, Denmark made a winning start to their competition and watch again the highlights as Yussuf Poulsen's second-half goal gave them a 1-0 victory over Peru in their Group C game at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Available to UK users only.

Some early team news.

Australia are unchanged, meaning Tim Cahill again misses out on a starting spot. If he gets on he will have a chance to score for the fourth successive World Cup. Still waiting on confirmation of the Denmark side.

Image source, Socceroos

Hello and welcome along to day eight of the 2018 Fifa World Cup. Enjoying it so far?

I'm Michael Emons and will be guiding you through the action in today's opener as Denmark take on Australia, with France v Peru and Argentina v Croatia the other matches on Thursday.

We have 5 live commentary of Denmark v Australia from 12:30 BST as well.

Russia are already into the last 16...

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...as are Uruguay...

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...and Denmark could take a huge step closer to the next phase if they can overcome Australia in today's first match.

Image source, Getty Images