After Australia’s heartbreaking late loss to France at the FIFA World Cup™ on Saturday night, all eyes turned to the other Group C clash between Denmark and Peru.
And it was the Danes who emerged narrow 1-0 winners to sit alongside Les Bleus at the top of the group.
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So what does that mean for the Socceroos heading into the next match against Denmark on Thursday night (10pm AEST), live on SBS and Optus Sport?
Quite simply, Bert van Marwijk’s men now have no more room for error if they are to progress to the last 16.
Currently three points behind both France and the Danes on the ladder, the Socceroos will be desperate to register a win in Samara.
While a draw against Denmark would still keep their hopes alive heading into the final match against Peru, destiny wouldn’t be in Australia’s hands.
Depending on what happens when France takes on Peru in their respective second matches, the Socceroos would need Les Bleus to defeat Denmark in the final game and also beat the South Americans - possibly by a couple of goals – to advance.
It means Australia will likely go all-out for victory in what looms as an absorbing game against Christian Eriksen’s Danes on Thursday.
And despite the loss to France, the Socceroos will fancy their chances of getting a win, with Denmark riding their luck in toppling Peru on Sunday morning (AEST).
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Right-back Josh Risdon remained in a confident mood after the France defeat, believing they remain in a strong position to replicate the 2006 Socceroos and make the last 16.
“To know we can come up against the players we did [from France] and put in such a good performance, the whole team was amazing,” Risdon told www.socceroos.com.au.
“It gives us a lot of confidence going into the next two games. We’re still very much alive in the group.
“If we can take that performance today into the next two games we’ll do ourselves a lot of favours in progressing.”
The Socceroos take on Denmark at the Cosmos Arena in Samara on Thursday night at 10pm, live on SBS and Optus Sport.
