World Cup·Recap

France, Denmark advance to Round of 16

​Already-qualified France played out an uninspiring goalless draw with Denmark in their final World Cup Group C match at Moscow's Luzhniki stadium on Tuesday, which was enough to ensure that both teams advance to the knockout stage.

France earns top spot in Group C in 1st scoreless draw at World Cup

France and Denmark battled to a 0-0 draw in the final Group C match at the World Cup on Tuesday. (David Vincent/The Associated Press)

A game no team needed to win became the game no fan would want to watch.

France and Denmark produced the World Cup's first 0-0 draw at the 37th attempt amid boos and whistles from fans on Tuesday.

The slow-paced game was out of step with a vibrant tournament. But it advanced both teams to the round of 16 unbeaten, with the bonus of no players suspended and no serious injuries.

The draw would always have ensured that outcome, and became inevitable in the second half. Events elsewhere in Group C made this game all but irrelevant.

France claims top spot in Group C, advancing alongside Denmark into the Round of 16. Australia and Peru were both eliminated. 1:09

Peru beat Australia 2-0 in Sochi at the same time, meaning the Danes would have advanced even if they lost to France before 78,011 at the World Cup's signature Luzhniki Stadium.

"We did what we needed," Denmark coach Age Hareide said, praising his team for a disciplined display. "We would have been stupid to open a lot of space for the French team."

France, already sure to advance with two opening victories, goes into the round of 16 as the Group C winner and Denmark as runner-up.

The two teams were happy, and so were the thousands of Denmark fans who stayed to dance and cheer in an empty stadium.

Less happy were the neutral fans in the crowd. Many Russians cheered the host team's name and whistled misplaced passes and slow play as the game progressed with Denmark protecting its one point for a draw.

It was the longest a World Cup had gone without a goalless draw since 1954, a tournament of 26 games which all delivered at least one goal.

"We didn't have to take risks to get better because this result was good for everyone," France coach Didier Deschamps said.

Deschamps rested six starters to put out a team that barely tested Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel until substitute Nabil Fekir tried two long-range shots.


France stars rest

France's first-choice goalkeeper and captain, Hugo Lloris, was among those given the day off. Midfielders Paul Pogba and Blaise Matuidi were obvious choices to sit after collecting yellow cards in a 1-0 win over Peru. A second yellow card before the semifinals triggers a one-game ban.

"I want to have all my choices in the round of 16," Deschamps said. His team lost rhythm with a different trio of attacking midfielders to support Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud.


Whistles and jeers got louder after a misplaced pass in the 64th by France midfielder Thomas Lemar went off the field 10 yards (meters) away from any player.

Only in the final 20 minutes, when Fekir and Kylian Mbappe came off the bench, did France show more pace and direct intent. They met a solid Danish defence content with the draw.

Key to success


Group dynamics




"The team that only got three points, Peru, probably played the best in our group," Denmark coach Hareide, happy to advance from a tough pool.


