Denmark vs Tunisia Prediction
22nd November 2022
16:00 Qatar Time/13:00 GMT
Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan
Current Form (Last Five Matches):
Denmark
France
2-0 (H)
Croatia
2-1 (A)
Austria
2-0 (H)
Croatia
1-0 (H)
Austria
2-1 (A)
25.09.22
22.09.22
13.06.22
10.06.22
06.06.22
Tunisia
Iran
2-0 (N)
Brazil
5-1 (N)
Comoros
1-0 (N)
Japan
3-0 (A)
Chile
2-0 (N)
16.11.22
27.09.22
22.09.22
14.06.22
10.06.22
Denmark vs Tunisia Prediction Match Overview
In their opening group D match, a Danish team riding high on the back of a successful Euro 2020 campaign, World Cup qualifying campaign and finishing as runners-up in a difficult UEFA Nations League group containing France, Croatia and Austria, take on a Tunisia side with a mean defence and a reputation for grinding out results.
Denmark come into the tournament having defeated France both home and away in their UEFA Nations League group. The core of their Euro 2020 semi-final team remains largely intact, and they’ll be buoyed by the fact that their talisman Christian Eriksen has made a remarkable recovery following his cardiac arrest in their tournament opener against Finland.
Tunisia come into the tournament following a 1-0 aggregate win over Mali in their CAF playoff in March and thereafter went on a run of seven games without conceding a goal until a 5-1 mauling at the hands of tournament favourites Brazil. A 2-0 win over a strong Iranian side will serve to restore a measure of confidence.
Injuries and Suspensions
Will not play: Ronnow (Denmark)
Possible Lineups
Denmark vs Tunisia Prediction Analysis
Denmark will see the flanks as the key to the game as they are particularly strong in this area with quality in all areas. Euro 2020 breakout star Joakim Maehle and Mikkel Damsgaard on the left-hand side join Rasmus Kristensen and Andreas Skov Olsen on the right flank as they will look to stretch the Tunisian defence, pressing high up the pitch aided by the indefatigable Martin Braithwaite upfront and looking to get in behind as often as they possibly can. This plan of attack is ably assisted by Denmark’s chief creative influence, Christian Eriksen and a solid midfield pairing of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Thomas Delaney. In defence, Denmark possess a wealth of experience in the form of Andreas Christensen and veteran defender Simon Kjaer, while the hugely experienced Kasper Schmeichel provides a reassuring presence in goal.
Tunisia’s game plan will almost certainly be predicated upon defensive solidity, anchored by Salernitana’s Dylon Bronn and Montassar Talbi. The longer that they can frustrate the Danes, the more likely it is that they can force Denmark into overcommitting themselves in the final third and generate valuable space for their front three. While the rest of the team will remain resolutely disciplined, with highly energetic midfielder Ellyes Skhiri expected to protect the back line with the same zeal as he does for Bundesliga’s 1. FC Koln, their front three plays with a large degree of freedom and we’re likely to see the Tunisians try to get unpredictable attacking midfielder Wahbi Khazri on the ball to try to create something from nothing, especially from long range.
Denmark Key Players
Christian Eriksen
A consummate passer of the ball with superb technique, vision and positional awareness, Eriksen can be said to be something of a complete midfield player and Denmark will be relying on Eriksen to ensure that their domination of the ball doesn’t result in empty possessions. We expect that Eriksen will be playing a more advanced role than he does at Manchester United, and he’s also considered to be something of a dead ball expert which could become crucial if Denmark are struggling to break down Tunisia’s resolute defence.
Joakim Maehle
Following his breakout 2020 tournament, Maehle will be well-known to most fans at this point for his attacking prowess on the left-hand side in both carrying the ball far up the pitch and his knack for arriving in the right place at the right time, particularly on the end of dangerous balls to the far post. At times, it may seem that Maehle is playing almost as a winger, with others expected to cover for him during his frequent forays forward.
Tunisia Key Players
Wahbi Khazri
For their part, the Tunisians will be hoping that Denmark’s attacking style will present opportunities to get their attacking fulcrum on the ball. Khazri is a threat from all distances and doesn’t require a second invitation to shoot, especially from range. With chances likely to be at a premium against the Danes, they must generate an attacking threat of their own any way they can and Khazri could produce something extraordinary.
Ellyes Skhiri
The beating heart of Tunisia’s midfield, Skhiri is somewhat famous for his prodigious work rate. So much so that in the 2020/21 season, he covered 246.2 miles (396.2 kilometres), the most ground for any player in the Bundesliga. This tenacity will be crucial in helping the Tunisians to gain a foothold in the game and not allow the Danes to have it all their own way in the middle of the park.
Denmark vs Tunisia Prediction
In what could be a slow-burner of a game, we expect that Denmark’s relentless attacking approach will eventually overwhelm the Tunisians and pay dividends later in the game. It’s likely that eventually the sheer number of overloads created in wide positions will take their toll and Denmark will come through the other side with a hugely important victory.