FIFA World Cup Match Preview: France v Australia

The wait is over. The Socceroos kick off a fifth-consecutive FIFA World Cup campaign with their Group D opener against France at the Al Janoub Stadium on Wednesday at 6:00am (AEDT).

The Socceroos have made it to the world stage once again and a familiar foe looms as their first test on Wednesday (AEDT). 

Just like four years ago at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, the Green and Gold’s opening game is against France. 

On that day, the eventual champions needed a 58th-minute penalty from Antoine Griezmann and an 80th-minute own goal from Aziz Behich to secure Les Bleus a 2-1 win.

France, of course, went on to win the entire tournament, while Australia crashed out of the tournament with one point. 

But four years on, it is a different story. 

To qualify, Australia defeated Peru in a dramatic penalty shootout win in the FIFA intercontinental play-off back in June while France qualified directly after topping UEFA Group D.

The Socceroos closed out their preparations for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ with a 1-0 win over New Zealand in Brisbane and then a 2-0 win at Auckland Eden Park in September.

Meanwhile, France enter the match with one win, two draws and three losses in the UEFA Nations League in a group containing Denmark, Croatia and Austria.

For the Socceroos, Graham Arnold has selected a squad with a blend of experience and youth with Australia looking to progress to the Round of 16 for the first time since 2006.

Rising star Garang Kuol and Olyroos graduates Cammy Devlin, Keanu Baccus, Riley McGree and Thomas Deng are among 17 players in line for their World Cup debuts while the likes of Aaron Mooy, Jackson Irvine, Aziz Behich, Mathew Leckie and Mat Ryan all possess World Cup experience. 

Kye Rowles and Harry Souttar have also returned from injury. Souttar is not only strong in defence but has six goals in 10 matches for Australia through headers off corners. At the other end of the pitch, Jamie Maclaren also has eight goals in his last 11 international matches.

France are missing several key players through injury, including Presnel Kimpembe, Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kante, and now Karim Benzema, while Raphael Varane is with the squad but are nursing an injury.

Olivier Giroud came off the bench against Australia in 2018 but he could feature from the start this time with Benzema ruled out. Giroud is only three goals away from passing Thierry Henry as France’s all-time top scorer. 

Head-to-head, the two teams have only met five times in men’s football, with the Socceroos winning once to France’s three. One game finished in a draw.

The Socceroos will hope to rekindle the energy gained from the intercontinental play-offs and bring it to their opening Group D match.

World ranking

Australia: 38
France: 4

Opta insights

• Australia have qualified for a sixth World Cup, and fifth in a row since the 2006 edition. However, they have been eliminated from the group stage in four of their five previous appearances, progressing only in 2006, when they were eventually eliminated at the last 16 by Italy, who went on to win the tournament.
• Australia have faced the eventual winners of the World Cup in three of their five previous tournaments, losing on each occasion – Germany in 1974 (0-3), Italy in 2006 (0-1), France in 2018 (1-2).
• Mat Ryan, who played all 11 of Australia’s third and fourth round matches in AFC qualifying for this World Cup, is set to appear in a third World Cup for Australia, the most of any goalkeeper for the nation. Should he feature in all three of Australia’s group games, he will move level with Mark Bresciano and Tim Cahill on nine World Cup appearances, the most for the Socceroos.
• France have qualified for their 16th FIFA World Cup. It’s their seventh appearance in a row, their longest ever consecutive run of participations.
• France have won the FIFA World Cup on two occasions, in 1998 and 2018. However, no side has won back-to-back tournaments since Brazil in 1958 and 1962.
• Reigning world champions have won their opening match in just three of the last 12 editions of the FIFA World Cup (D4 L5) – Germany in 1994, and Brazil in both 1998 and 2006.

How to watch

The match against France will be broadcast live and free on SBS and streamed live on SBS On Demand in Australia.

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ - Group D Matchday 1

France v Australia
Date: Wednesday, 23 November 2022
Venue: Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
Kick-off: 6:00am (AEDT)
Watch: LIVE and FREE on SBS and SBS On Demand

What they said 

Socceroos head coach Graham Arnold

"It's our job to go out there tomorrow and show them who we are as a nation. The players have the stage, it's their stage. And this is an opportunity in life that can change their life even more than what they have now.

"We know their strengths. It’s about those 10 blue shirts against 10 yellow. It’s an individual battle, and we have got the Aussie DNA. We will go out there and have a fight, kick and scratch, do whatever is required."

Socceroos captain Mat Ryan

"The biggest focus for us has been the mentality. And the boys have grasped the mentality that we go into every game whoever we are facing with the right amount of respect.

"We don't underestimate anybody and we don't over-respect anyone, and that's a real challenge. I think for us, in my personal experiences, that's the first step in preparing for matches, is to get that spot on. 

"The boys have embraced that and it's all about going out and executing that tomorrow night. We're playing some very good players in a good team tomorrow, but we're all human out there and it's about getting ready for this game and doing everything we possibly can in what we've learned and prepared for and going out there and executing it. I feel if we do that to the standards that we've set, we've got a real good chance to win."

France head coach Didier Deschamps

"We know that the first game in a competition is always very important. There’s no anxiety or anything. Everyone is calm, everyone’s got a cool head.

"We know that Australia will be a difficult opponent, they’ll give us a run for our money, but we will put everything we can into place for the win. We’ve done everything possible. The boys are feeling good about this first game, the best that they can."

France striker Olivier Giroud

"We know they are a tough team, they defend really well, they play with a lot of aggression and generosity and they have talented players, a lot of players playing in Europe.

“That first game in 2018 was very difficult to win ... we felt relief after that. There is no easy game and we really respect this team and we know how important it is to start the competition well so we will do our best and try to play our best football."

Our squad

Arnold announced his 26-man squad on Tuesday, November 8 (AEDT) and selected a squad with a blend of overseas and Australian-based players as Australia look to progress from Group D.

Seventeen players in the squad have never featured at a FIFA World Cup, with many having all experienced their respective senior international debuts post the 2018 edition. It means there is a great opportunity for players to fulfil a childhood dream and represent their country at the pinnacle event in football.

READ MORE: Meet Australia's FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Squad

Socceroos Squad | FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™

READ MORE:
MEET THE SQUAD: The Goalkeepers
MEET THE SQUAD: The Defenders
MEET THE SQUAD: The Midfielders
MEET THE SQUAD: The Forward

Next Group D fixtures

The Socceroos turn their attention to facing Tunisia and Denmark to close out Group D in Doha.

Tunisia v Australia
Date: Saturday, 26 November 2022
Venue: Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
Kick-off: 9:00pm (AEDT)
Watch: Live and Free on SBS and SBS On Demand

Australia v Denmark
Date: Thursday, 1 December 2022
Venue: Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
Kick-off: 2:00am (AEDT)
Watch: Live and Free on SBS and SBS On Demand