Group C

France: New York Giants

Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba of France (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

The French national team may not be the favorite to win the World Cup, but they could very well be the most fun to watch.

Under manager Didier Deschamps, France boasts plenty of young talent and on offense, there are plenty of options to choose from when it comes to who carries the ball up and who could eventually put it in the back of the net. At the top of the list for both of those steps are Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann.  Both of those players can control the game or strike at goal anytime the ball is in their possession.

A relatable pairing for those two seems to be Odell Beckham Jr. and rookie running back Saquon Barkley of the New York Giants. The Giants, like the French, are youthful in their offensive attack, but have plenty of talent within their younger age. Ultimately, however, both of these teams will need to rely on their captains, keeper Hugo Lloris for France and quarterback is Eli Manning for New York. These aging vets hold the keys to consistency for the young talented squads.

Australia: Miami Dolphins

This Australian team should be more unified than they are at the moment, and I feel as though that can also be said about the Miami Dolphins – though for different reasons.

For Australia, their disorganization comes from losing a coach that lit a fire in them and made their team one of the most potent offenses in Australian futbol. Immediately after booking their spot in the World Cup, their manager, Ange Postecoglou, announced his resignation. This sent shockwaves throughout the locker room. Though for different reasons, when Adam Gase put his foot down and told some of the players they weren’t welcome if they weren’t up to his par all around, the same sort of disturbance entered in Miami.

From one coach to the other, Australia went from an all-out offensive scheme to now a much more well-rounded one. Though Miami and head coach Adam Gase would probably rather be on the more offensive side, they, too, bring a balanced team to the table. Balance without top talent, however, don’t get you many wins in a top tier tournament such as a the World Cup or the NFL Playoffs.

Peru: New Orleans Saints

Peru started their World Cup qualification run very slow. After their first seven games of qualification, they only had four points and were in eighth out of 10 teams in their qualification group. But, after that sluggish start, they went on to win their next 12 matches, and are currently undefeated since then, having not lost since 2016. The Saints were very much the same when they rolled into the 2017 playoffs. After starting the previous season 0-2, New Orleans went on to win its next eight games and came into the playoffs with the same kind of momentum Peru is experience going into this World Cup.

Peru’s key contributors come from all ages, as do the new-look Saints after a stellar draft class in 2017 with the likes of running back Alvin Kamara and cornerback Marshon Lattimore. What seems to make Peru strongest is how close-knit they are. An emphasis on local talent have given this team the resemblance of a family. After Hurricane Katrina, to me, New Orleans has always carried that sense of a family within a team, too. The head of the family for Peru is veteran 34-year-old striker Paolo Guerrero, which very much mirrors 39-year old quarterback Drew Brees with the Saints. Both are captains of their respective teams, and the success of both squads run through them.

Christian Eriksen of Denmark (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Denmark: Carolina Panthers

It is the height of the Danish team that gives it its source of offense – 6-foot-3 Nicolai Jorgensen with 6-foot-4 Andreas Cornelius wide on the right. Then throw in the additional six-footers Thomas Delaney and William Kvist and you have one of the tallest squads in the World Cup field. Similarly, the Panthers built their offense in the same manner with Devin Funchess, Greg Olsen and previously Kelvin Benjamin. Both squads use size to beat you.

Even beyond the height correlation, the similarities in impact between Danish goal scorer Christian Eriksen and Panthers quarterback Cam Newton are easy to see. When each are on, they’re one of the best in the world at what they do. They can score by themselves and yet they’re just as good at setting others up to capitalize for the good of the team. Wins and losses for Denmark and Carolina go through their stars. They are viewed similarly in how each team game plans with and without them. Both have MVP ceilings, and when achieved, can beat anyone in the field.