World Cup 2022: Can Socceroos Stun Short-Handed France?

France vs Australia

France and Australia will meet in their opening group game of World Cup 2022, the second World Cup in a row that they will face off in their first match.

Les Bleus needed a late own goal to edge out the Socceroos in 2018 en route to winning the entire tournament. And the World Cup 2022 betting odds once again have the French as heavy favourites against the Aussies.

But with several injuries to key players decimating their star-studded squad, will the defending champions still begin their campaign with a win or can the Socceroos shock the world?

Talking Points

Injury-hit France lose another huge star

France’s bid to end the World Cup winner’s curse is already looking shaky as the injury bug continues to bite them hard.

First, key midfielders N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba – who both started in their World Cup triumph in 2018 – missed out due to injury. Then, Presnel Kimpembe and Christopher Nkunku both withdrew from the squad with injuries of their own.

And now, Les Bleus have suffered their biggest injury yet as newly crowned Ballon d’Or Karim Benzema is set to miss World Cup 2022 after picking up a thigh injury in training.

The veteran striker was expected to lead France’s front three alongside Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe. But Didier Deschamps must now alter his attacking plans amid Benzema’s injury.

Olivier Giroud is the prime candidate to replace Benzema in attack. The 36-year-old is having another strong season with AC Milan, scoring nine goals with five assists in 19 appearances for the Rossoneri.

Giroud is also just two goals away from tying the great Thierry Henry as France’s all-time top scorer with 51 goals. He has been in great goalscoring form for his country, scoring three times in his last four outings, and he will be keen to provide some World Cup 2022 highlights.

Meanwhile, the injuries to key veterans means Deschamps will likely turn to several youngsters in Real Madrid midfielders Aurelien Tchouameni (22 years old) and Eduardo Camavinga (20), as well as Arsenal centre-back William Saliba (21) to play in the spine of his side.

Socceroos hoping for some World Cup success

Australia are back at the World Cup. This is the Socceroos’ fifth successive trip to the tournament, and for the second straight time, they needed to win an inter-confederation play-off on penalties to book their ticket to the finals.

Australia have been in steady decline since they made it to the round of 16 in their first appearance during this run in 2006. They have gone out in the group stage in each of the last three World Cups and have gone winless in the last two, finishing 30th out of 32 teams.

Coach Graham Arnold, who took charge of the side after the previous World Cup, will have a tough task breaking that winless run as he will not have a particularly talented side to work with in Qatar.

The team’s top players – goalkeeper and captain Mathew Ryan, midfielder Aaron Mooy, and top scorer Mathew Leckie (13 goals in 73 caps) – are all in their 30s now, and they don’t have the group of players plying their trade in big leagues like the Premier League that they once had.

With their lack of quality, the Socceroos will struggle to score or even keep hold of the ball. Their best hope of picking up a point against group favourites France will be to defend deep and hope to snatch a goal on a set piece.

History

France and Australia have met once before in the World Cup, and it came in the previous one in 2018 in Russia.

After Mile Jedinak’s penalty cancelled out Antoine Griezmann’s opening goal from the spot, France won 2-1 through an Aziz Behich own goal 10 minutes from time.

Betting Tip 

Despite their many injuries, France are still installed as massive 1.28 favourites by the SBOTOP odds to win their opener. Australia are priced at 11.00 to pull off the upset, while a draw is 5.00.

With just one win in their last six games and multiple key players absent, it’s hard to be overly optimistic about France at the moment. Yes, the quality of Kylian Mbappe is likely to shine through and get the win in their opener.

But as Australia showed four years ago, they are no pushovers. They will make things as tough as possible for the defending champions and keep things quite competitive.

 

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