World Cup: Watch Australia v Denmark analysis

1. Use play icon at top of the page to watch live coverage from the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar
2. Australia are guaranteed to finish in top two if they beat Denmark
3. They will also qualify or last 16 with a draw if Tunisia do not beat France
4. Holders France are already through and will top Group D if they avoid defeat against Tunisia

Wow. Our post at 14:10 asking you to give a thumb up for an Australia win or down for Denmark is proving quite the battle.

It's been neck-and-neck for 30 minutes, with the teams tied at 244 thumbs apiece on last viewing. It's going to be a close one - but will that be the case on the pitch?

'Chance for other players to shine'

Laura Georges

Former France international on BBC One

Didier Deschamps played at World Cup '98 where France qualified after two games - the third game Aime Jacquet changed the team and I think today is a chance to give consideration to other players who have been working hard during training and to keep them motivated.

Winless Danes still have hope

Getty Images

Denmark are on their longest ever winless World Cup run, having failed to win any of their past five games in the competition.

Kasper Hjulmand's side still, however, have every hope of reaching the last 16 in Qatar despite taking one point and scoring one goal across their opening two matches.

The Danes drawn four of those matches and it is their struggles in front of goal which continue to hinder them. They last scored more than once in a World Cup match in a 2-1 victory over Cameroon in 2010.

Among those results was a 1-1 draw with Australia in the 2018 group stages... but they will be fully aware only a win will do today.

Meet the Meulensteens

'Australia's energy will win the game'

Dion Dublin

Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

I've got a feeling for the Aussies, I really have. I think Australia are really going to go for the throat. I think the quality leans towards Denmark in that midfield when you've got Hojbjerg and Eriksen who are going to take charge of the midfield area.

You've got a creative one and one that will break things up as well. Braithwaite has come in, he's very direct, love to get into goal scoring positions, he's going to be a headache for the two defenders of Australia.

I just feel the energy of Australia, the energy will win the game, not quality, teh energy. Winning the ball back when you haven't got it in the final third, creating as many chances as possible.

BBC One

The start of today's World Cup television coverage is under way now on BBC One and online.

Tune in!

'To leave a legacy is huge'

Getty Images

Only once before, in 2006, have Australia qualified for the knockout stage at a World Cup.

But Graham Arnold's side are best placed to follow France out of Group D and into the last 16 in Qatar before their final fixture against Denmark.

The Socceroos coach has called on his players to "leave a legacy" as they look to build on their win over Tunisia and secure progress.

"When you look at the celebrations in Federation Square down in Melbourne, and I've had a few mates send videos of how crazy the place is going, it just shows you that football is alive and well in Australia," Arnold said.

"Putting smiles on Australian faces once is not enough. Let's do it some more times.

"To leave a legacy is huge. It's about putting the game on the map a bit more in Australia."

Listen to World Cup Daily

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Kelly Cates brings you two special interviews to preview the huge final group games today.

First up is Mauricio Pochettino to talk Lionel Messi and look ahead to Argentina’s crucial tie with Poland.

Then ahead of the Australia’s decider with Denmark, BBC commentator Pien Meulensteen visits the Soceroos’ camp to catch up with her Dad, Rene, who is the assistant manager of the national team.

Listen to World Cup Daily here.

Get Involved

Of course, we want you to be involved throughout as we see which nation will join France in qualifying from Group D.

Australia supporters, this match will be kicking off at 02:00 AEDT back home, so let us know how you're managing to stay awake to follow the Socceroos!

Wherever you are in the world, make sure you send in pictures of your World Cup viewing set up, and your thoughts on how things might play out as another group is settled in Qatar.

You can reach us by including #bbcfootball in your tweets, text 81111 if you're in the UK, or via WhatsApp on 03301231826.

German fan hoping to meet people

Emma Sanders

BBC Sport at Education City Stadium

BBC Sport

I can only apologise for the giant photo which has no doubt destroyed your eyes on the screen but Clauss, a German fan, wouldn't let me take a photo other than a selfie with me in it despite me insisting I hadn't done my hair!

Clauss said he was trying to make the most of his time in Qatar by going to as many matches as possible in between Germany's games.

He was a bit disappointed by the pre-match atmosphere when I found him. "Where are all the fans today?" he asked.

"I have come to meet people from all different countries but they must be at the fan park on the Corniche, I don't know."

I asked him how confident he was for Germany's progression. He laughs. "We only have one point! We need to start winning."

Danes to get the job done

BBC

I haven't changed my mind about Australia's strengths and weaknesses but if they score first, this becomes very interesting.

That would make things super-awkward for Denmark, who are lacking that cutting edge up front.

Reaching the last 16 would be an incredible achievement for this Australia side but it is the Danes who I think will make it, and I don't think they will fall behind either.

Sutton's prediction: 0-2

A big ask for Tunisia

BBC

France are already through so this is Tunisia against their reserves - what a lovely position to be in.

Tunisia will be hoping Australia can get a draw, because that would open the door to them going through - although it is still a big ask for them to beat France's second team.

Prediction:1-1

Group D - the story so far

Mbappe double against Denmark fires France into knockout stage

Mbappe and Giroud star in France victory against Australia

Watch/listen/read on the BBC

You can watch, listen or read about ALL four games on the BBC today.

With regards to the first two games, Tunisia v France is live on BBC One with build up from 14:30 GMT. Australia v Denmark, meanwhile, is on BBC Two, with coverage of that game beginning at 14:45 GMT.

Both games are also on BBC iPlayer, online and on BBC Sounds.

Mbappe, Varane and Msakni

Emma Sanders

BBC Sport at Education City Stadium

It was pretty quiet around the Education City Stadium on my way in about two hours before kick-off.

Most of the "neutral" fans are off to Australia v Denmark as there's a lot riding on it, as well as Argentina - aka Lionel Messi - being in action later.

But I did find two men, originally from South Korea but living in Qatar (they asked not to be photographed), wearing Paris St-Germain shirts.

"Here to watch Kylian Mbappe?" I asked.

"Oh yes, definitely," one of the men replied. "We are here to watch him and Raphael Varane. Also Youssef Msakni too."

Msakni's name took me by surprise, especially after hearing global superstars Mbappe and Varane's.

But the Tunisian winger plays for Qatar Stars League club Al Arabi and is one the locals are looking forward to seeing.

Unfortunately for these fans, both Mbappe and Msakni are on the bench!

Who will still be smiling in a few hours time?

Let's see some thumbs up for Australia, or thumbs down for Denmark...

Getty Images

Getty Images

'We'll monitor the other game'

Getty Images

There should be plenty of twists and turns to come as the Group D table reorganises itself over the course of the next few hours, and managers at both stadiums will be keeping a very close eye on proceedings at the other.

"My thinking is to prepare the team to play well and win the match. We are practising and training well and focusing on the task at hand," Denmark boss Kasper Hjulmand said.

"I don't have the brain capacity to think about that match [between France and Tunisia] - all that is on my mind is this game and preparing my boys to try to win.

"We'll be monitoring, that's for sure, but we are playing to win and hopefully that will be enough."

No suspension risks for France

Emma Sanders

BBC Sport at Education City Stadium

It's worth noting that not a single player in the France starting XI is at risk of suspension and missing the next match - unless they pick up a red card of course.

Barcelona defender Jules Kounde is the only one who would need to be careful and he's on the bench.

Tunisia have four players at risk - three on the bench - including key midfielder Aissa Laidouni, who starts.

Team news - No Mbappe, Lloris or Giroud

Emma Sanders

BBC Sport at Education City Stadium

There is surprisingly six changes for Tunisia in this must-win match.

The six players to drop out are Dylan Bron, Mohamed Drager, Ali Abdi, Naim Sliti, Issam Jebali and Youssef Msakni.

In comes captain Wahbi Khazri, Nader Ghandri, Ali Maaloul, Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane, Wajdi Kechrida and Anis Slimane.

Tunisia XI: Dahmen, Talbi, Meriah, Ghandri, Khazri, Maaloul, Laidouni, Ben Romdhane, Skhiri, Kechrida, Slimane.

France manager Didier Deschamps has made wholesale changes to the side with qualification already secured.

The likes of Kylian Mbappe, Hugo Lloris, Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezmann are on the bench.

Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate starts alongside Man Utd's Raphael Varane in defence.

Varane, one of the two to keep their places from the victory over Denmark, will also captain the side.

France XI: Mandanda, Disasi, Varane, Guendouzi, Tchouameni, Kolo Muani, Fofana, Veretout, Coman, Konate, Camavinga.

Team news - three changes for Denmark

Australia make just one change to the XI that beat Tunisia 1-0 in their previous Group D game as Milos Degenek replaces Fran Karacic at right-back for the Socceroos.

Australia XI: Ryan, Degenek, Souttar, Rowles, Behich, Leckie, Irvine, Mooy, Goodwin, Duke, McGree.

Subs: Atkinson, Karacic, Tilio, Wright, Maclaren, Hrustic, Mabil, Redmayne, Devlin, Vukovic, Deng, Kuol, King, Cummings, Baccus.

BBC Sport

Denmark, meanwhile, make three changes for the must-win meeting with the Aussies - all of them in attacking positions as boss Kasper Hjulmand looks to improve on just one goal in their opening two games.

Martin Braithwaite, Brentford midfielder Mathias Jensen and Andreas Skov Olsen are the players to come in as Mikkel Damsgaard, Victor Nelsson and striker Andreas Cornelius drop to the bench.

Denmark XI: Schmeichel, Andersen, A Christensen, Maehle, Kristensen, Hojbjerg, Eriksen, Jensen, Skov Olsen, Lindstrom, Braithwaite.

Subs: Nelsson, Kjaer, Dolberg, Damsgaard, Norgaard, O Christensen, Stryger Larsen, Wass, Wind, Poulsen, Cornelius, Ronnow, Skov, Bah.

BBC Sport