{"id":3058,"date":"2022-11-22T01:21:12","date_gmt":"2022-11-21T14:51:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theasiangame.net\/?p=3058"},"modified":"2026-09-25T11:10:48","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T01:40:48","slug":"match-preview-france-vs-australia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theasiangame.net\/ro\/match-preview-france-vs-australia\/","title":{"rendered":"Match Preview: France vs Australia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The Asian Game’s coverage of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is proudly sponsored by SMC.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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It feels like deja vu all over again as Australia prepare to face France in their opening game of the FIFA World Cup.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Of course this was the scenario four years ago in Russia when France escaped with a narrow 1-0 win over a plucky Australian outfit coached by Dutchman Bert van Marwijk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Four-and-a-bit years on from that day in Kazan and the French once again await Australia and they do so as the defending champions; albeit a wounded one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the lead up to the World Cup it seemed like not a day went by with a French player withdrawing with injury, with the likes of Paul Pogba, N\u2019Golo Kante and Karim Benzema all withdrawing since Didier Deschamps named his initial 26-man squad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Australia haven\u2019t been immune to the curse of the pre-tournament injury, with Scottish-based winger Martin Boyle succumbing to a knee injury he sustained recently with Hibernian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ajdin Hrustic is another who had been under a fitness cloud coming in, and while he is fit to take his place in the team, Arnold confirmed on Monday at his pre-match press conference that the Italian-based midfielder will start from the bench, which opens up a few different options for Arnold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He gave nothing away pre-game, but he could choose to keep his central midfield duo of Aaron Mooy and Jackson Irvine, who in effect play as two No.6s at the base of the midfield, and replace Hrustic, in that No.10 role, with Middlebrough\u2019s Riley McGree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Another is to push Mooy forward into that advanced attacking position, and bring Cameron Devlin in to play in central midfield alongside Irvine. Arnold has spoken at length of his admiration of Devlin and his dogged tenacity in midfield; traits he may prefer as he looks to disrupt and frustrate the star-studded French midfield.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other major selection dilemma for Arnold comes in the centre of defence, with preferred duo Kye Rowles and Harry Souttar both returning from injury and short of a gallop. To play both would be a risk, especially Souttar who is returning from a 12-month layoff after an anterior cruciate ligament injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That brings Sunderland\u2019s Bailey Wright and Thomas Deng, who plays for J2 champions Albirex Niigata, into contention, while there have even been whispers of Arnold changing to a back three, which would be a significant change in tact from a coach who has stuck fat to his system for better or worse over the last few years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It goes without saying that Australia go into the game as rank underdogs against the defending champions, but the Boyle injury aside Australia\u2019s preparations in Doha have been faultless and if there is one thing you can be assured of with an Australia side it\u2019s that they will be prepared perfectly for the occasion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thanks to Toby's Estate for the coffee! \ud83e\udd24#Socceroos<\/a> #GiveIt100<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/7V3UETVqaY<\/a><\/p>— CommBank Socceroos (@Socceroos) November 20, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote>