FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 Highlights Denmark 1-1 Australia June 21 2018

Australia coach Bert van Marwijk named an unchanged starting line-up for their crunch World Cup clash with Denmark following their opening 2-1 defeat to France. The Socceroos, who have made it into the last 16 only once, in 2006, needed to beat the Danes to have any chance of repeating the feat. Despite having several attacking options at his disposal, including veteran Tim Cahill and 19-year-old starlet Daniel Arzani, Van stuck with the same side that asked questions of France in the defeat in Kazan sealed by a late Aziz Behich own goal from a Paul Pogba strike.

The Australians fought hard, staying alive in the World Cup’s Group C after gaining a point with a 1-1 draw against Denmark, which once again conceded a penalty through VAR.

It was Eriksen who got the ball rolling for Denmark, their talisman on hand to thrash home Nicolai Jorgensen‘s flick from just inside the penalty area.

The Video Assistant Referee then played a part in Australia’s equaliser as match official Lahoz took a look at a handball claim against Poulsen.

He had originally waved away Australian protests but, despite the ball seemingly hitting Poulsen’s arm by accident from Leckie’s header, Lahoz pointed to the spot and Jedinak obliged to tuck home the penalty.

Denmark opened their Group C campaign with a 1-0 win over Peru, in which Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichelperformed heroics before front man Yussuf Poulsen hit the winner.