Australia and France will be desperate to start their World Cup campaigns on the right foot when they meet in Kazan on June 16.
France carry a huge expectation to win big in Group C. The Match will kick-off at 11am BST.
Didier Deschamps’ side enter the game as strong favourites with France tipped to go far in Russia, while Bert van Marwijk’s Socceroos side face a real challenge to escape a difficult group.
With games against Denmark and Peru to come, Australia need to avoid a repeat of their 4-0 loss to Germany in their 2010 World Cup opener to keep their hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive.
Overview
France have lost just once in their last 12 matches, and are amongst the favourites for the World Cup, but coach Didier Deschamps looks set to go into their first game of the tournament with a new formation as his battle to get the best out of his youthful, vibrant and exciting squad rumbles on.
After persisting with a 4-4-2 that looked outdated and constrictive, he is expected to unleash a 4-3-3 with a twist, that will team Kylian Mbappe (£166m), Ousmane Dembele (£135m) and Euro 2016 Golden Boot winner Antoine Griezmann together in a frightening front three.
While Deschamps has had six years to tinker, his opposite number Bert van Marwijk has had just four friendlies, having been parachuted in following the resignation of Ange Postecoglou in November. After a punishing defeat in his opening game, the Socceroos have impressed under the Dutchman winning the other three matches.
Head-to-head
#Australia beat France 1-0 at the 2001 Confederations Cup in their only previous competitive match.
#France won 6-0 in their last meeting in 2013 with Olivier Giroud scoring twice.
About France :
- Remarkably, France have topped their group only twice in their last nine World Cup campaigns (1998 and 2014) and have progressed from the group stage in only six of 14 tournament appearances.
- Since winning all three group games at the 1998 World Cup, their only three wins in the opening stage since have come against Togo, Honduras and Switzerland (P12 W3, D5, L4).
- Didier Deschamps’ side only allowed their opponents 15 shots on target in reaching Russia – a joint record in European qualifiers alongside Spain
About Australia :
- Australia are appearing at their fifth World Cup and their fourth in a row.
- The only time they reached the knockout stage was in 2006 when they were eliminated by eventual winners Italy.
- They have only won two of their previous 13 matches at the World Cup, a 3-1 victory against Japan in 2006 and a 2-1 win over Serbia in 2010.
- Their only clean sheet in a World Cup match was a 0-0 draw with Chile in 1974. They conceded nine goals in the group stage of the 2014 finals which was a joint high with Cameroon.
- Tim Cahill has scored five of Australia’s 11 World Cup goals (45%).
Predictions
Football Experts at BBC Predicts : If you go through the France side, you would think they will win comfortably. I don’t think it will be that easy, but they have got enough match-winners in their team for someone to make the difference when it matters once Australia start to tire. Prediction: 2-0.
France Vs Australia ( Comparison and History)
Probable Lineups
France predicted line-up vs Australia
Australia predicted line-up vs France
Full Squads
Australia :
Goalkeepers: Brad Jones (Feyenoord), Mat Ryan (Brighton), Danny Vukovic (Genk).
Defenders: Aziz Behich (Bursaspor), Milos Degenek (Yokohama F. Marinos), Matthew Jurman (Suwon Samsung Blue Wings), James Meredith (Millwall), Josh Risdon (Western Sydney), Trent Sainsbury (Grasshopper Zurich).
Midfielders: Jackson Irvine (Hull City), Mile Jedinak (Aston Villa), Robbie Kruse (VfL Bochum), Massimo Luongo (QPR), Mark Milligan (Al-Ahli), Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield), Tom Rogic (Celtic), Tim Cahill (Millwall).
Forwards: Daniel Arzani (Melbourne City), Tomi Juric (Luzern), Mathew Leckie (Hertha Berlin), Andrew Nabbout (Urawa Red Diamonds), Dimitri Petratos (Newcastle Jets), Jamie Maclaren (Hibernian).
France :
Goalkeepers: Alphone Areola (Paris St Germain), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Steve Mandanda (Olympique de Marseille)
Defenders: Lucas Hernandez (Atletico Madrid), Presnel Kimpembe (Paris St Germain), Benjamin Pavard (VfB Stuttgart), Benjamin Mendy (Manchester City), Djibril Sidibe (Monaco), Adil Rami (Olympique de Marseille), Samuel Umtiti (Barcelona), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid)
Midfielders: Blaise Matuidi (Juventus), N’Golo Kante (Chelsea), Steven N’Zonzi (Sevilla), Paul Pogba (Manchester United), Corentin Tolisso (Bayern Munich)
Forwards: Olivier Giroud (Chelsea), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Kylian Mbappe (Paris St Germain), Thomas Lemar (Monaco), Nabil Fekir (Olympique Lyonnais), Florian Thauvin (Olympique de Marseille), Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona)