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Denmark and France played out a 0-0 draw at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, ensuring that both teams qualify for the Round of 16, with the French topping Group C.
In an uninspiring game that was largely bereft of chances, both goalkeepers were largely tested only by efforts from long range, as the Luzhniki Stadium saw the first goalless draw of the tournament.
The last ten minutes were played out to a chorus of boos from the fans assembled at the stadium, especially when Denmark was in possession.
Denmark finish second in Group C and are now likely to face Croatia in the Round of 16, barring an utterly miraculous sequence of events in the last round of games in Group D.
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#5 France have work to do in the knockout stages
Throughout the group stage here, France haven't looked the potent force on the pitch, that they do on paper. With a squad that possesses the wealth of attacking talent that they do, it is curious that the side struggles as much as they have in front of goal so far.
Didier Deschamps's system has always seen Olivier Giroud being the focal point of the attack, with the big No.9 using his strength and aerial ability to bring the more diminutive, quicker attackers into play and in their stride.
But that has not worked for the large part of this World Cup thus far, as the big man has generally not been able to impose himself on opposition defenders.
In this game, both Simon Kjaer and Mathias Jorgensen won most of their duels with Giroud, and Deschamps was left cutting a frustrated figure on the touchline.
Deschamps went into the tournament, with the idea of a rolling front three of Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, but once that didn't really work in the game against Australia, he switched to Plan A once again, but neither plan has given France any sort of sustained bite in the final third.
#4 Antoine Griezmann struggles again
Antoine Griezmann was France's undisputed star, in their run to the final at Euro 2016, but at this World Cup so far, he has looked well off the pace.
His only goal at the tournament has come from a penalty against Australia, and he has looked far from his usual buoyant self.
Griezmann still was trying to make things happen, with both his movement and his dribbling, but sometimes he just didn't get the rub of the green going his way.
Right at the end of the first half, Griezmann picked up the ball deep in France's half, from a Danish corner, but by the time he had crossed the halfway line, Mathias Jorgensen decided that he had had enough and unceremoniously hacked him down.
It has also not helped him that Giroud has not helped him with those knock-downs that he so often profits from.
France needs a fit-and-firing Griezmann in the knockout stage, where a mouthwatering tie against Lionel Messi's Argentina could beckon.
#3 Denmark stop playing in the second half
In the second half of the game, news must have trickled into the Danish camp that Australia was losing to Peru and that even a draw wouldn't affect their hunt for a spot in the knockout stages.
That sense of security was a primary reason for the game being a damp squib, and one with very little goalmouth action, compared to other games at this World Cup.
Denmark fans have, over the last few games, questioned coach Age Hareide's tactics, which despite bringing results, has been to prioritise pragmatism over pyrotechnics.
Denmark has not lost a competitive game of football in almost two years, so Hareide will justify his methods using the end-result, but it wasn't soothing on the eye for anyone to watch.
With the presence of attacking players such as Christian Eriksen, Kasper Dolberg and Viktor Fischer, one would have expected Denmark to give it a final push, especially if they knew that there was no pressure of qualification, given the result in the other game.
But in the end, that wasn't to be, as Denmark came and got the clean-sheet that they'd have so craved at the start.
#2 Deschamps's rotation kills the spectacle
France went into this game without Paul Pogba, Hugo Lloris, Benjamin Pavard, Samuel Umtiti and Kylian Mbappe, and all those changes killed any rhythm that France had built in their opening two games.
Thomas Lemar and Steven Nzonzi were playing their first games of the tournament, and they looked visibly off the pace, as France had nothing to show for moving forward.
The big change from France in midfield was the most significant, in terms of this game, as Nzonzi replaced Pogba.
Both aren't similar kinds of players, and with the presence of N'Golo Kante, another defensive midfielder in Nzonzi might not have been necessary.
In the end, Deschamps will say he didn't care, as France finished top of the group, but for the average World Cup watcher, his changes for this game - which are justified in the larger picture - killed any sort of spectacle that might have developed.
#1 The worst game of the World Cup so far
At the start of the game, Denmark knew a draw would take them through to the next round. France also knew a draw wouldn't hurt them at all, as it would confirm top spot in the group.
As a result, what we got was the first goalless draw of the World Cup, and this was the kind of 0-0, that makes you want to pick up your television set and fling it somewhere, given the slow, boring nature of the play throughout the game.
Towards the end of the game, the fans had enough. The last ten minutes were played out to a chorus of boos from the fans assembled at the stadium, especially when Denmark was in possession.
Denmark showed no intent at all, as Kasper Schmeichel decided to hold on to the ball for as long as he possibly could, as often as he possibly could.
Kjaer and Jorgensen didn't do too much different from Schmeichel either. France didn't hurry the Denmark rearguard to play the ball out quicker either, as both sets of players looked content with the goalless draw.
Sadly, only the two teams were content with the match that just happened.
What did you think about the game? Sound off your opinions in the comments section below!
