WATCH: France v Australia Pre-Match Press Conference

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

Watch in the player above or read on for the key talking points from the pre-match press conference featuring Head Coach, Graham Arnold, and Captain, Maty Ryan.

Feeling relaxed and raising the energy levels in preparation for a World Cup opener:

ARNOLD: "I think the energy levels are already up. They're extremely high. And that's why the boys are so relaxed that you can look at positives and negatives of a lot of things.

"And you look at how a lot of the other nations qualified. In Europe, for example, eight qualifiers, we had 20.

We've been in these situations in camp with a short lead into games many, many times, and the boys know exactly what to expect.

"They're relaxed, as you can tell, we're all relaxed. We're all excited. And, you know, there's no better way to go into a game."

RYAN: "Yeah, energy has been one of our principles from the get go when Arnie's regime started.

"And that's been the common theme. I think a relaxed approach is a good thing.

"You know, showing calm and composure out there to go and carry out the game plan. I think relaxed is an important trait in doing that.

"And that's definitely been, I think, the approach from the group and we're in a good place, and very much looking forward to getting it all underway tomorrow."

The starting XI:

ARNOLD: "I'm allowed 11. And we've got 11 in my, my brain. And it's done in for me, it's done.

"I know the starting lineup. We will tell the players that tonight and and practice with that tonight.

"The three main messages I've been driving since we've been here is about belief.

"And about the energy and the focus and the focus is on ourselves and making sure that we get our jobs right, and get our roles right and go out there and with a load of energy to to put in a great performance to make the nation proud."

Ajdin Hrustic and Harry Souttar:

ARNOLD: "Ajdin trained with us fully yesterday. He's in good shape. He will start on the bench.

"Harry's in great shape. He's done every session and he brings such good leadership and energy into the group and, he's in shape ready to start the game.

"So overall, as I said, the boys are in really good shape overall. And yes, the Martin Boyle thing happened but that's in the past now and he's in great spirits even though he's been devastated by the injury.

"But it gives someone like Marco Tilio a great chance as well."

Playing the defending World Champions:

RYAN: "I think the biggest focus for us has been the mentality. And the boys have grasped the mentality that we go into every game, whoever we're 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. 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, what we've learned and prepared for and going out there and executing it. 

"And I feel, if we do that to the standards that we set, we've got a real good chance to win tomorrow night."

Players experiencing their first World Cup and Tim Cahill's impact in camp:

ARNOLD: "Those boys showed me at the Olympics, that there's so many of these boys that are so brave, and nothing affects them at all.

"The younger players I think with this type of World Cup the younger players are the right ones for this World Cup because of the quick turnaround, and young ones bring such a great energy into the camp.

"With the experienced players that we've got in and around them, it's crucial that they're so supportive of those younger boys and making sure that their energy is up as well and supporting them.

But look, Tim Cahill, he's been great. When I say that he's done a lot of planning for us, we were staying in a fantastic facility at Aspire (Academy) where we don't have to get on a bus to go anywhere to training.

"Our pre-planning, three months before the World Cup was important and myself and my experiences that I've had as an assistant coach at a World Cup of getting that right, because of the distractions and the effect that can have on players if it's not right.

"So Tim has been really good in helping us with doing that and getting that ready."

What was learned from playing France at Russia 2018:

RYAN: "On your journey and evolution through football in your career you continuously learn and from our experience four years ago, I was fortunate enough to be present there.

"The feeling that we had walking off the pitch, given the circumstances of how the match played out, we almost got a great result there against France in picking up a point or getting a win.

"We felt we were quite unlucky. You've got to use those experiences and what you learn and what you can take from those sorts of moments to try and better yourself and collectively move forward as a group.

"We have a different manager what we have now as well, and different things we're obviously been working on and the growth of the team and the personnel that are coming in.

"I think the guys that were present that day, we try and help support the, the more youthful players within the group with educating them on perhaps what the right mentality and the mindset is, in order to approach these games through conversing with them, day in day out around the place, having conversations, and, just trying to help in any way we can through sharing experiences of our own.

So, that was definitely something that I learned that day and have continued to learn through my career into now is, you got to have the right amount of respect for the opposition.

And don't be in awe of them or ever be overwhelmed too much, because it's going to take away your own capabilities of playing to your highest level.

"That's been the first concrete message we've been trying to get through to the squad, and everyone's been receiving it quite well.

"And the training sessions have been intense. And yeah, we're feeling pretty well prepared and ready for the challenge tomorrow night."

Response to Ibrahima Konaté admitting he doesn't know Australia's players:

ARNOLD: "That's their point of view, it's our job to go out there tomorrow and show them who we are as a nation and show the players have the stage, it's their stage.

"And this is an opportunity in life that can change your life even more than what they have now.

"Sometimes Maty (Ryan) has been very fortunate. He's had three lots. This is his third campaign, a lot of players don't get one chance and I'll just say, every player needs to look at Martin Boyle today.

"And then realise how fortunate they are to be here and run off the back of that because he's out and these players are pumped and ready to go. And that's the most important thing."

Leadership: 

RYAN: "I've been very fortunate to have had many examples of great leaders and my club football and more so in within the Socceroos as well.

"Coming in to the scene with the Socceroos from a young age and having a lot of the golden generation around, the examples they set the standards they set for themselves.

"One thing that always stood out to me was the guys that always went the extra length to dedicate themselves, sacrifice everything in order to get the most out of their abilities, were always the players that had that little bit more illustrious careers than than others.

"I just think that dedication to being able to prepare yourself to give everything you know for the team is a great, a great leadership quality."

"Probably the biggest aspect of leadership for me is production on the football pitch. As players we're presented with numerous moments within a game where the odds are stacked against us.

"We have to use all that we've practiced in order to come out on top.

"And I feel like one of the key leadership qualities is being able to come out on top more often perhaps when no one expects you to (like) the leaders, for example, Tim Cahill, Mark Schwarzer, Lucas, Neil,  Mile Jedinak, all these big moments in the history of the football.

"They were there and able to produce for our country and, sorry, I can't sit here and mention all the names, but they're just a few that stand up."

What it will take to get a result against France:

ARNOLD: "It's about believing in yourself. And also having the focus and the belief to do it.

"It's not just what you do without the ball. It's what you do with the ball. And it's about getting everything right, not just one part or one aspect of the game, whether that's defense or attack, it's making sure that we get every part right.

"The opposition is dangerous when they don't have the ball. Because of how they are in transition with the counter attack.

"So we need to make sure again, every aspect in defense, rest defense, build up attacking, we need to be on our game. And we will be."

The impact of Guus Hiddink:

ARNOLD: "I spoke to him many three days ago, four days ago.

"He's been a an incredible mentor for me over since 2005.

What I learned of course, in one year would have taken me probably 10 years to learn on my own.

"Just detail, body language and game plan and all those type of planning details.

"He was with us for the New Zealand games and he gave me a real good insight, a report with fresh eyes of what he saw and he in a lot of ways, or in some ways, it helped me open my eyes a little bit wider than normal and helped me with my squad selection.

"He's a great man and a great help.

ARNOLD: Harry Souttar's return from injury:

"Just before he got injured, there was talk about him going to Everton or to a Premier League club for a huge amount of money and unfortunately, that didn't happen.

But Harry's got the mindset that these things happen for a reason in life. And then he also has a mindset of bouncing back and being being ready for whatever's thrown in front of him.

"Again from me knowing these players for four and a half years and knowing their mindset, so I know which ones are strong mentally and ones that really have only one vision, and that's going forward in life and Harry's definitely one of them."

Kylian Mbappé:

ARNOLD: "His strength is speed, winger, going up, cuts inside on his right foot shoots. We need to have players here ready for that. 

"The players go and they all they get all the individual footage and all the analysis on that individual.

"And we give that all to the individual to go and look at so the player's obviously been looking at it (but) I can remove the name the players can't.

"But it's the way I present it is we're playing against the team in the blue shirt."