France vs Denmark

A week after hosting the Champions League final, the Stade de France will play host to France’s inaugural 2022/23 UEFA Nations League match against Denmark.

Following a dismal Euro 2020 campaign, France have gone from strength to strength as they head into the new edition of the Nations League as the reigning champions. Unbeaten within 90 minutes in their last 20 international fixtures, Didier Deschamps’ take the field on a run of seven consecutive victories, averaging 3.42 goals per match. ‘Les Bleus’ are full of confidence after winning their last four competitive home outings by an aggregate score of 17-1, achieving a multi-goal margin triumph three times along the way. Despite boasting intimidating firepower up top, head coach Deschamps has based his side’s recent success on a rock-solid backline that has kept a clean sheet in seven of France’s last ten wins. On top of that, the reigning world champions have only ever lost one Nations League fixture.

In the meantime, Denmark enjoyed a near-perfect 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign, as they finished top of their group with nine wins from ten qualifiers (L1). Though a 2-0 defeat at Scotland in their final World Cup qualifier halted the run of six straight international triumphs, a 4-2 reverse at the Netherlands in a friendly is a more worrying sign. An underwhelming display against France’s long-term rivals cast doubt on Denmark’s ability to cope with Europe’s finest sides. Yet, a comprehensive 3-0 home triumph over Serbia last time out should bolster Denmark’s spirits as they hope to end a run of five successive winless H2Hs (D1, L4). However, after drawing a blank in four of those five meetings, the ‘Danish Dynamite’ will feel concerned about their chances in Paris.