Group C of the 2018 FIFA World Cup took place from 16 to 26 June 2018. The group consisted of eventual champions France, Australia, Peru, and Denmark. The top two teams, France and Denmark, advanced to the round of 16.
France, Denmark, and the winners of the play-off between Australia and Peru (ultimately Australia) were drawn into the same group again for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Teams Draw position Team Pot Confederation Method ofqualification Date ofqualification Finalsappearance Lastappearance Previous bestperformance FIFA Rankings October 2017 June 2018 C1 1 UEFA UEFA Group A winners 10 October 2017 15th 2014 (quarter-finals) Winners (1998) 7 7 C2 4 AFC CONCACAF v AFC play-off winners 15 November 2017 5th 2014 (group stage) Round of 16 (2006) 43 36 C3 2 CONMEBOL OFC v CONMEBOL play-off winners 15 November 2017 5th 1982 (first group stage) Quarter-finals (1970), Second round (1978) 10 11 C4 3 UEFA UEFA second round winners 14 November 2017 5th 2010 (group stage) Quarter-finals (1998) 19 12
Notes
Standings
In the round of 16: The winners of Group C, France, advanced to play the runners-up of Group D, Argentina. The runners-up of Group C, Denmark, advanced to play the winners of Group D, Croatia.
Matches All times listed are local time.
France vs Australia The two teams had met in four previous matches, most recently in a 2013 friendly, a 6–0 France victory.
After a disjointed first half, the game sparked into life shortly after the interval as referee Andrés Cunha initially disallowed a French penalty, but after a call from the VAR, changed his decision and awarded the penalty to France, deciding that Josh Risdon had clipped Antoine Griezmann just inside the area. Griezmann would convert the penalty, which was the first World Cup penalty awarded by VAR. The opener was soon cancelled out just four minutes later by another penalty, Australian midfielder and captain, Mile Jedinak, slotting home after Samuel Umtiti handled the ball in the box, and they looked on course to hold one of the pre-tournament favourites until Paul Pogba's lobbed effort confirmed by goal line technology deflected off Australia full-back Aziz Behich and the crossbar to fall inches over the goal-line.
The two penalties were scored in the game between France and Australia were only four minutes, seven seconds apart - the shortest period of time between two penalties being scored by different sides in a World Cup match. Both countries also featured their youngest ever World Cup players in Daniel Arzani at 19 years and 163 days and Kylian Mbappé at 19 years and 178 days.
GK 1 Hugo Lloris (c)RB 2 Benjamin PavardCB 4 Raphaël VaraneCB 5 Samuel UmtitiLB 21Lucas HernandezCM 12Corentin Tolisso CM 13N'Golo KantéCM 6 Paul PogbaRF 11Ousmane Dembélé CF 10Kylian MbappéLF 7 Antoine Griezmann Substitutions:FW 9 Olivier Giroud FW 18Nabil Fekir MF 14Blaise Matuidi Manager:Didier Deschamps GK 1 Mathew RyanRB 19Josh Risdon CB 5 Mark MilliganCB 20Trent SainsburyLB 16Aziz Behich CM 15Mile Jedinak (c)CM 13Aaron MooyRW 7 Mathew Leckie AM 23Tom Rogic LW 10Robbie Kruse CF 11Andrew Nabbout Substitutions:FW 9 Tomi Juric MF 22Jackson Irvine FW 17Daniel Arzani Manager: Bert van Marwijk
Man of the Match: Antoine Griezmann (France)
Assistant referees: Nicolás Taran (Uruguay) Mauricio Espinosa (Uruguay) Fourth official: Julio Bascuñán (Chile) Reserve assistant referee: Christian Schiemann (Chile) Video assistant referee: Mauro Vigliano (Argentina) Assistant video assistant referees: Tiago Martins (Portugal) Hernán Maidana (Argentina) Jair Marrufo (United States)
Peru vs Denmark The two teams had never met before in a FIFA-sanctioned match, but both teams previously faced each other in an exhibition match at the 1997 U.S. Cup (a 2–1 Denmark victory).
Yoshimar Yotún lashed the ball into Kasper Schmeichel's midriff from 25 yards as Peru began the game and Edison Flores lifted a shot over the crossbar from just outside the box. André Carrillo surged towards the Denmark box in the 13th minute and cut inside to curl a low drive towards the bottom-left corner, only for Schmeichel to pull off a diving save. Denmark began to dominate possession but it was not until the 27th minute that they attempted a shot on goal, Thomas Delaney launching the ball over. Denmark midfielder William Kvist was taken off on a stretcher after a sustaining a blow to the ribs in a challenge with Jefferson Farfán, and then Christian Cueva was brought down in the penalty area by Yussuf Poulsen. The referee pointed to the spot upon reviewing video footage and Cueva blazed over, much to the dismay of Peru's sizable travelling support. Adopting a more adventurous approach after the restart, Denmark were rewarded when Christian Eriksen's precise through-ball allowed Poulsen to open the scoring with a low left foot shot. Peru were denied an immediate equaliser when Denmark goalkeeper Schmeichel produced a one-handed save to deny Flores. Substitute Paolo Guerrero, who was only able to play after a Swiss tribunal lifted a 14-month drugs ban, backheeled a chance wide as Denmark held on.
Denmark have won three of their four World Cup matches against South American opponents, with the only exception being a 3–2 defeat against Brazil in the 1998 quarter-final.
GK 1 Pedro GalleseRB 17Luis AdvínculaCB 2 Alberto Rodríguez (c)CB 15Christian RamosLB 6 Miguel TraucoCM 13Renato Tapia CM 19Yoshimar YotúnRW 18André CarrilloAM 8 Christian CuevaLW 20Edison Flores CF 10Jefferson Farfán Substitutions:FW 9 Paolo Guerrero FW 11Raúl Ruidíaz MF 23Pedro Aquino Manager: Ricardo Gareca GK 1 Kasper SchmeichelRB 14Henrik DalsgaardCB 4 Simon Kjær (c)CB 6 Andreas Christensen LB 17Jens Stryger LarsenCM 7 William Kvist CM 10Christian EriksenCM 8 Thomas Delaney RF 20Yussuf Poulsen CF 9 Nicolai JørgensenLF 23Pione Sisto Substitutions:MF 19Lasse Schöne FW 11Martin Braithwaite DF 13Mathias Jørgensen Manager: Åge Hareide
Man of the Match: Yussuf Poulsen (Denmark)
Assistant referees: Jean Claude Birumushahu (Burundi) Abdelhak Etchiali (Algeria) Fourth official: Mehdi Abid Charef (Algeria) Reserve assistant referee: Anouar Hmila (Tunisia) Video assistant referee: Felix Zwayer (Germany) Assistant video assistant referees: Bastian Dankert (Germany) Mark Borsch (Germany) Danny Makkelie (Netherlands)
Denmark vs Australia The two teams had met in three previous matches, most recently in a friendly in 2012, with Denmark prevailing 2–0.
Thomas Delaney headed wide from Pione Sisto's cross after just two minutes against Australia. At the other end, Mathew Leckie rose above the Danish defence to head a corner over the bar but Denmark countered and Nicolai Jørgensen's lay-off afforded Christian Eriksen the chance to hit a half-volley past Mathew Ryan and into the top left corner of the net. Sisto shot a 20-yard drive and Jørgensen flashed a close-range header just wide. In the 35th minute, referee consulted VAR and decided that Yussuf Poulsen used his arm to block Leckie's headed shot and awarded the penalty, which Mile Jedinak shot into the bottom right corner of the net. Poulsen had a penalty claim of his own waved away early in the second half after he tumbled to the ground on his way into the Australia box. Kasper Schmeichel failed to collect a looping long ball before Leckie flashed the ball across the face of goal. Daniel Arzani teed up Aaron Mooy for a shot that flew just over the top right corner of Schmeichel's goal from outside the box. Andrew Nabbout left the field with a dislocated shoulder and was replaced by Tomi Juric.
After Ghana, Australia are the second team in World Cup history to score three consecutive goals from the penalty spot. Poulsen is the first player to concede two penalties in a single World Cup since Milan Dudić for Serbia in 2006. Mark Milligan completed 85 passes in this match - a record for an Australian player in a single game at a World Cup tournament. As Poulsen had a yellow card in the previous match, he did not play for Denmark in the next match.
GK 1 Kasper SchmeichelRB 14Henrik DalsgaardCB 4 Simon Kjær (c)CB 6 Andreas ChristensenLB 17Jens Stryger LarsenCM 8 Thomas DelaneyCM 19Lasse SchöneCM 10Christian EriksenRF 20Yussuf Poulsen CF 9 Nicolai Jørgensen LF 23Pione Sisto Substitutions:FW 11Martin Braithwaite FW 21Andreas Cornelius Manager: Åge Hareide GK 1 Mathew RyanRB 19Josh RisdonCB 20Trent SainsburyCB 5 Mark MilliganLB 16Aziz BehichCM 15Mile Jedinak (c)CM 13Aaron MooyRW 7 Mathew LeckieAM 23Tom Rogic LW 10Robbie Kruse CF 11Andrew Nabbout Substitutions:FW 17Daniel Arzani FW 9 Tomi Juric MF 22Jackson Irvine Manager: Bert van Marwijk
Man of the Match: Christian Eriksen (Denmark)
Assistant referees: Pau Cebrián Devís (Spain) Roberto Díaz Pérez (Spain) Fourth official: Bamlak Tessema Weyesa (Ethiopia) Reserve assistant referee: Juan Carlos Mora (Costa Rica) Video assistant referee: Mark Geiger (United States) Assistant video assistant referees: Jair Marrufo (United States) Joe Fletcher (Canada) Paolo Valeri (Italy)
France vs Peru The two teams had met only once, a friendly game in 1982, won by Peru 1–0.
Yoshimar Yotún's shot from the halfway line drifted wide. Raphaël Varane missed with a header before Pedro Gallese saved with his legs to deny Antoine Griezmann after Olivier Giroud found him with a headed pass. Paolo Guerrero shot straight at Hugo Lloris on the turn after Christian Cueva found him in the box. Paul Pogba slid Giroud into the area and when his shot looped over Gallese via a deflection off Christian Ramos, Kylian Mbappé tapped into the empty net from inside the six-yard box. Pedro Aquino clipped the outside of the post with a drive from 25 yards. André Carrillo fired over the crossbar and Jefferson Farfán hit the side-netting. Guerrero missed a late free-kick, and France secured their place in the knockout stages, while Peru were knocked out.
Mbappé became France's youngest ever goalscorer at the World Cup, aged 19 years and 183 days, as well as the first player born after France's 1998 World Cup triumph to score a goal at the finals. Peru are just the second South American side to fail to qualify for the World Cup knockout stage in the last three tournaments - the other being Ecuador in 2014.
GK 1 Hugo Lloris (c)RB 2 Benjamin PavardCB 4 Raphaël VaraneCB 5 Samuel UmtitiLB 21Lucas HernandezCM 6 Paul Pogba CM 13N'Golo KantéRW 10Kylian Mbappé AM 7 Antoine Griezmann LW 14Blaise Matuidi CF 9 Olivier GiroudSubstitutions:FW 11Ousmane Dembélé FW 18Nabil Fekir MF 15Steven Nzonzi Manager:Didier Deschamps GK 1 Pedro GalleseRB 17Luis AdvínculaCB 15Christian RamosCB 2 Alberto Rodríguez LB 6 Miguel TraucoCM 23Pedro Aquino CM 19Yoshimar Yotún RW 18André CarrilloAM 8 Christian Cueva LW 20Edison FloresCF 9 Paolo Guerrero (c) Substitutions:FW 10Jefferson Farfán DF 4 Anderson Santamaría FW 11Raúl Ruidíaz Manager: Ricardo Gareca
Man of the Match: Kylian Mbappé (France)
Assistant referees: Mohamed Al Hammadi (United Arab Emirates) Hasan Al Mahri (United Arab Emirates) Fourth official: Janny Sikazwe (Zambia) Reserve assistant referee: Jerson Dos Santos (Angola) Video assistant referee: Daniele Orsato (Italy) Assistant video assistant referees: Abdulrahman Al-Jassim (Qatar) Taleb Al Maari (Qatar) Szymon Marciniak (Poland)
Denmark vs France
The two teams had faced each other in 15 matches, including two World Cup group stage matches, in 1998, won by France 2–1, and in 2002, won by Denmark 2–0.