Mayes Yousef
France are favourites to beat Australia, who have qualified for the tournament finals eight times, with their best performance being a finish in the Round of 16 in 2006. They’ve yet to make it out of their group stage since then.
France striker and this year’s Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema had to withdraw from the tournament, earlier this week, after tearing a muscle in training, leaving French fans in dismay over his absence.
However, Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann are expected to lead the charge for Les Bleus, in Benzema’s absence.
The two national teams met in the 2018 World Cup, with France barely beating Australia 2-1, in the group stage.
France has a lot of experience, but what Australia lacks in experience, it makes up with youth, with their average age being 27.15 years old.
France’s player to watch is Mbappe, who’s one of two teenagers to ever score in a World Cup final; for Australia it’s Martin Boyle, whose made 18 appearances and scored five goals for Australia since his debuted for the national team in 2018.
France line-up: Lloris, Pavard, Upamecano, Konate, Hernandez, Rabiot, Tchouameni, Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe, Giroud.
Australia line-up: Ryan, Behich, Rowles, Souttar, Atkinson, Mooy, Leckie, Irvine, McGree, Goodwin, Duke.