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N’Golo Kante v Christian Eriksen (France v Denmark, 26/6/2018)
Given the results of the opening matches in Group C, it is likely that France’s clash with Denmark will decide who finishes top of that pool.
Kante’s France edged out Australia 2-1 after an indifferent display, while Denmark rode their luck to see off Peru 1-0, with Eriksen providing the assist for the decisive goal.
Indeed, both players were central to the efforts of their respective sides in the opening game and are expected to play key roles throughout the tournament. Of course, they are starkly contrasting players and that means that they are liable to occupy the same territory in this clash in the final round of group matches.
The ever-energetic Kante’s task will be to stop Eriksen having an influence on the game, a duel that is given extra spice by the fact that the two players turn out for London rivals Chelsea and Tottenham respectively.
In the Premier League this season, honours were even. Kante’s side won at Wembley early in the campaign but back in January it was Spurs who went to Stamford Bridge to claim the honours. This, then, is something of a decider.
With Argentina in indifferent form in Group D and certainly not guaranteed to finish first ahead of Croatia, it may be that the winner of this battle is pitted against Lionel Messi & Co. Given their indifferent form, though, they may not see that as a bad thing.
