FRANCE – AUSTRALIA | Tuesday 8pm
Pogba, Kanté, Kimpembe, Nkunku, Benzema. No, not a ‘piece’ of France’s starting line-up, but the players that Didier Deschamps was unable to take with him – or, in some cases, was forced to send home once he landed in Qatar – due to injuries that are characterising the pre-World Cup days of the reigning world champions, ready to defend in Qatar the title won four years ago in Russia. The latest, in order of time, to have to raise the white flag is the Real Madrid striker, fresh from winning the Golden Ball. Benzema was injured during one of the last training sessions but the coach has already explained that a replacement will not be called up.
An absence that will undoubtedly weigh heavily, but fortunately for Deschamps the Bleus squad abounds with players of the highest level. In order to repeat their 2018 success, however, they will need a different attitude to the one France had in the last European Championships, where they gave the impression of being nothing more than a mishmash of champions and were surprisingly eliminated in the round of 16 by Switzerland. Mbappé and his teammates only partly redeemed themselves by winning the Nations League in 2021, but recent appearances have been disappointing. In the 2022-23 Nations League, they even risked relegation to League B, achieving just one win in six matches.
France, however, remain the big favourites for the top spot in Group D, where Denmark, who got the better of the Gallettos in their two Nations League matches, also harbour ambitions of topping the table. The opener is against Australia, a selection that has not been able to return to the levels of 2006, when it came close to a historic quarter-final against future world champions Italy. On the bench there is no Hiddink, but Graham Arnold, and none of his starters play in a European big team. The qualification, however, came by the skin of their teeth: in the inter-zone play-off they got the better of Lapadula’s Peru on penalties.
France-Australia: latest line-up news
The Australian Leckie
With Benzema gone, it will be up to Milan’s Giroud to lead the attack of the World Cup-winning national team. The experienced striker is in good shape and behind him will have a trio that few selections in the world can afford, formed by Dembelé, Griezmann and Mbappé. Deschamps loses a lot in midfield, where the absence of an indispensable player like Kanté will be felt. He will rely on Real Madrid star Tchouameni and the Juventus player Rabiot, completely reborn in the last period. In defence, there will be space for Konaté, while Lucas Hernandez might emerge over his brother Theo.
Australia recently had to say goodbye to Hibernian striker Boyle, who was also stopped by an injury. In his place, they have called up Tilio. Baby Kuol, soon to become a Newcastle player, will start from the bench. In the centre of the attack will be Duke, centre-forward of the Okayama Pheasant, while in midfield is Hrustic of Verona.
The Prediction
Curiously, France also made their debut against Australia in the 2018 edition – the Bleus won 1-0 with an own goal in the final – and Deschamps will hope it bodes well to debut with the oceanic selection again, given the epilogue. The Socceroos compensate for their heavy technical limitations with good organisation, but Mbappé and his teammates, despite their absences, have so much quality at their disposal that they will have no problem breaking through their defence and scoring more than two goals thanks to the play of their champions.
France-Australia matchday squad
- FRANCE (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Pavard, Upamecano, Konaté, L. Hernandez; Tchouaméni, Rabiot; Dembelé, Griezmann, Mbappé; Giroud.
- AUSTRALIA (4-3-3): Ryan; Atkinson, Wright, Rowles, Behich; Hrustic, Mooy, Irvine; Leckie, Duke, Goodwin.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 3-0
