France were many people’s tip for Qatar 2022, having been so impressive when they won the World Cup four years ago.
On paper, they have the kind of squad that would have most FIFA 23 video game players drooling, or at least, they did before the injuries started piling up.
Midfield duo Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante, both so crucial to their success in 2018, had already been ruled out and in the days since coach Didier Deschamps announced his squad, two more high-profile names have been forced out. withdraw.
The loss of Christopher Nkunku was a blow, despite the RB Leipzig striker being unlikely to start, his 48 goals included (37 goals and 11 assists) in 2022, second only to France team-mate Kylian Mbappe (57 – 43 goals and 14 assists). players from the top five European leagues.
Then there was the withdrawal of Karim Benzema, a significant withdrawal considering the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner scored 44 goals in 46 games for Real Madrid in the 2021-22 season, helping the Spanish giants win La Liga and the Liga Champions.
However, if any nation can handle a double whammy like this, it is surely France.
When it comes to selecting the team for their opener against Australia, Deschamps is likely to return to the same trio he used at Russia 2018, with Mbappe alongside one or both of Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezmann.
Giroud has added motivation, sitting just two behind Thierry Henry (51) as Les Bleus’ all-time top scorer.
“Obviously I have this target, this kind of bonus in my head to beat [Henry]but the main objective as a team is to go as far as possible in the competition,” the Milan striker said at a press conference on Friday.
France will need to improve on their recent form though, having won just one of their six UEFA Nations League matches in June and September (W2, L3).
Their first hurdle is an Australia side that made it to Qatar by the skin of their teeth, needing a dramatic penalty shootout win against Peru in a play-off to go through.
Dancing substitute goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne was the hero on the day, but coach Graham Arnold will need inspiration from elsewhere if the Socceroos are to improve their World Cup record.
They have been eliminated from the group stage in four of their previous five appearances, only progressing in 2006 when Arnold was Guus Hiddink’s assistant.
Australia have won just 13 percent of their World Cup matches (two out of 16); only Bulgaria (12 percent – three out of 26) has a lower winning percentage among nations to play 10 or more games in the final.
They have also suffered an injury of their own, with Martin Boyle withdrawn after failing to recover from a knee problem. Melbourne City winger Marco Tilio has replaced him and Arnold is backing the 21-year-old to step up.
“Marco has done everything that has been asked of him to be ready for this tournament,” said Arnold. “He was an important member of our Tokyo 2020 Olympic team, he has started the men’s A-League season well and is familiar with the national team set-up and we are looking forward to what he can bring to our squad for the tournament. .”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
France – Kylian Mbappe
Losing the likes of Nkunku and Benzema is never a good thing, but the blow is softened when you can still fall back on the most electric striker in world football.
Mbappe played a key role in France’s success at the 2018 World Cup, scoring four goals in seven games in Russia. During the tournament, the young French star not only became his country’s youngest ever goalscorer at a World Cup (19 years 183), but also only the second teenager to score in a World Cup final after the Brazilian icon Pele did this against Sweden in 1958. .
He has also been unstoppable for Paris Saint-Germain this season, with 19 goals in 20 games for the Ligue 1 giants.
Australia – Matt Ryan
Not only because Australia are likely to face a lot of knocks against the world champions, but Ryan also brings experience that this team badly needs.
The former Valencia and Arsenal goalkeeper has not featured much for Copenhagen this season, with Kamil Grabara the favourite, but he played all 11 of Australia’s third and fourth round AFC World Cup qualifiers.
Ryan will also appear in a third World Cup for Australia, the most of any goalkeeper in the nation. If he plays in all three group games, he will move level with Mark Bresciano and Tim Cahill on nine World Cup appearances, the most for the Socceroos.
prediction
Unsurprisingly, France are relatively overwhelming favorites to start with a win.
According to Stats Perform’s AI model, Les Bleus have a 73.4 percent chance of taking all three points, with Australia only given a 10.6 percent chance.
The draw comes in at 16 per cent, which cannot be discounted given France’s injuries and questionable form towards Qatar.
