France and Croatia among teams in action
Tuesday 26 June 2018 14:11, UK
The final round of World Cup group games continues on Tuesday, with Argentina fighting for a spot in the last 16.
Groups C and D take centre stage on Tuesday, with only France and Croatia guaranteed a spot in the knockout stages and Peru the sole side not able to progress further. For the remaining five teams, it is all the play for.
Each morning during the tournament we will bring you an overview of what is coming up.
World Cup fixtures
World Cup venues
Australia v Peru (Group C) - Fisht Olympic Stadium, 3pm
Denmark v France (Group C) - Luzhniki Stadium, 3pm
Iceland v Croatia (Group D) - Rostov Arena, 7pm
Nigeria v Argentina (Group D) - Krestovsky Stadium, 7pm
In Group C, only France are guaranteed a spot in the last 16, and they take on a Denmark side who are in pole position to join them with four points. The Danes need a draw against Les Bleus to send them through to the knockout stages, and can top the group with a victory.
Should Denmark lose to France, they will be hoping Australia lose or draw with Peru, who are already eliminated. Should Australia win, they will need to do so by two or more goals to overturn the goal difference gap against Denmark.
With Croatia the only side in Group D already qualified, the second spot is up for grabs and Argentina will be hoping it is theirs, although there plenty of permutations as Jorge Sampaoli's men are currently bottom of the group.
If Argentina beat Nigeria in their final game and Croatia beat Iceland, Argentina go through. They will also go through if they beat Nigeria, Iceland beat Croatia, and Argentina's goal difference betters Iceland's.
Nigeria can qualify with a draw or win against Argentina if Iceland lose or draw against Croatia, while Iceland must beat Croatia in their final game to give themselves the chance of qualification and currently have a better goal difference than Argentina
Olivier Giroud: The France striker won a starting place in the last game against Peru after coming on as a substitute in the opening match, and impressed with his performance. He picked up an assist for Kylian Mbappe's winner as he knocked the ball back for the teenager, and will be hoping to have the same impact against Denmark as Les Bleus target a top of the table finish.
Luka Modric: The Croatia captain has led by example in two games so far, netting in both wins, including a sensational solo effort against Argentina. He has only had two shots on target so far - scoring with both - with his work in the middle of the park continues to power an impressive team.
Lionel Messi: Argentina need a hero if they are to reach the last 16 of the World Cup, and the man who usually saves their skin is Messi. However, the captain has yet to show what he can really do, having had 12 shots so far but failed to score, although he has had eight more attempts than any other Argentina player.
Mbappe on target again?
Mbappe is the second youngest player a this year's World Cup, and doesn't turn 20 until December, but he has already lit up the World Cup with a superb winning goal against Peru.
The PSG forward could become the first teenager to score in more than one World Cup match since England's Michael Owen did so in 1998 when the striker scored against Romania and Argentina in France.
Eyes on Sochi
Denmark staff will monitor group rival Australia's game against Peru from the Luzhniki Stadium dugout with the Danes needing a draw to guarantee a place in the knockout rounds.
Coach Age Hareide said Denmark has "our guy who is there" in Sochi who will keep his assistant Jon Dahl Tomasson updated.
The coach added: "We will know how it is going on an ongoing basis. I'm not sure I'm going to tell the players, though."
What are England doing?
England will hold a closed training session on Tuesday morning before a player will face the media at 2pm BST.
Denmark and France are meeting at a sixth major tournament after Euro 1984, Euro 1992, World Cup 1998, Euro 2000 and World Cup 2002. France went on to win three of those five previous tournaments.
Hosts Argentina defeated the Netherlands 3-1 after extra time to win the 1978 World Cup for the first time.
