Expert Picks

France got a welcome wakeup call by spotting Australia a one-goal lead before overwhelming the Down Unders 4-1. The French will be ready for Denmark, having not defeated them in the past three meetings. The Danes must endure the absence of midfielder Thomas Delaney, a defensive specialist who was injured in the draw with Tunisia. France's roster is missing key contributors, so it will endeavor to salt away a slot in the Round of 16 with a win and possibly rest a few regulars in the group finale.

France’s attack looked sensational in the opener against Australia as Oliver Giroud and Kylian Mbappe combined for three goals in the 4-1 victory. However, the French haven’t fared well against the Dutch recently, going winless in their last three meetings against Denmark. Five of the last seven games between these teams have produced Under 2.5 goals. France and Denmark squared off in the group stage at the 2018 World Cup, a game which ended in a 0-0 draw. I’m expecting history to repeat itself as we see another low-scoring affair between these two countries. I'm taking Under 2.5 at -140, but I think it's worth backing even as high as -150.

Denmark have won the past two meetings – by a combined 4-1 in UEFA Nations League matches in June and September. These teams also played to a 0-0 draw at this stage in 2018. Denmark don’t absolutely need a victory, and France should be fine with one point here, so they’ll split the difference. I think French manager Didier Deschamps plays it a bit more conservatively after his team’s 4-1 drubbing of an inferior Australia side. The Danes have played four straight stalemates in the World Cup – one of those against Les Bleus, of course. France will greatly miss the injured Karim Benzema in this one, and I expect it to go under the total.