Denmark vs Australia: Christian Eriksen scores unique World Cup 2018 goal as Mile Jedinak continues his streak

Group C remains wide open after the 1-1 draw in Samara

Group C is wide open against after Australia and Denmark played out a 1-1 draw in Samara as Mile Jedinak's penalty cancelled out Christian Eriksen's earlier moment of class.

Here’s five things we learned...

Finally, a team goal!

This World Cup has seen nine goals from the penalty spot so far – with Lionel Messi being the only one to miss one – and four free-kicks, it has very much been a tournament of dead-ball moments so far. But finally, we got a goal that had nothing to do with a VAR decision, a free-kick, penalty or corner.

Christian Eriksen’s stunning opener was all about the movement and understanding of Denmark’s players around a confused Australian defence. The awareness of Nicolai Jorgensen to not only spot the run of Eriksen but also flick it into his path with the disguise he had on it was brilliant. The only thing that made it better was the emphatic half-volley into the roof of the net from the Spurs playmaker.

Aussies love/hate relationship with VAR

They’ve now had one for and one against in this World Cup as the Australians’ relationship with VAR took another twist in Samara. Against France, Antoine Griezmann benefitted as Australia became the first victims of a successful VAR-review for a penalty, leaving them with an uphill task against one of the more fancied nations in Russia.

Eriksen opened the scoring (AP)

That decision was probably the correct one, although hotly contested, and this one was no less controversial. Youssef Poulsen was judged to have handled the ball to give away the penalty after the off-field referees decided the incident was worthy of a review.

Jedinak does not miss penalties

There was a brilliant battle of nerves before the penalty was taken by Mile Jedinak as he and Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel faced each other while waiting for the referee’s whistle. Schmeichel was seen on camera shouting “Mile! Mile!” before gesturing at his hands and where he wanted the ball to go.

However, stoney-faced, Jedinak took no notice and slotted his penalty to Schmeichel’s left, in the exact spot where he put it against France only five days before. He extends his record to 16 penalties scored out of 16.

Mile Jedinak of Australia scores his team's first goal from the penalty spot (Getty Images)

Australia severely lack goals… and creativity

For a team with the likes of Aaron Mooy, who lit up the Premier League for Huddersfield Town last season, it is astonishing to hear Australia’s poor division of goals. In their last five competitive games (excluded friendlies) they have only managed five goals, four of which have been penalties scored by Jedinak. The fifth was a free-kick… scored by Jedinak.

This would explain their lack of potency in the final third during their time in Russia and why they have struggled to take the game by the scruff of the neck in both games so far.

Denmark miss their chance

A win for Denmark would have been enough to send them through to the last 16 and after scoring only six minutes into the game, they would have been confident with that being the outcome in Samara.

But it wasn’t to be, the Danish failed to take their moment and Australia dug in and actually finished the stronger of the two teams. Denmark face France in their final game whereas Australia face Peru, who could already be eliminated by the time they play. There will be a lot of nervous Denmark fans come that match.