Football Results

Even four World Cup matches will be played on Saturday and in the first of them former world and European champion France faces Australia, which managed to come to Russia after two play-off matches. Regarding their previous head-to-head, the two teams met two times in 2001 and then Australia won at the Confederation Cup in Japan and South Korea by 1-0, while their friendly in Melbourne ended as draw 1-1. Five years ago the French won friendly played in Paris by even 6-0.

France

Of course, the French are regarded as absolute favourites to win the match, especially as they have the most expensive team at the World Cup, which doesn’t have to mean much as everything has to be verified on the pitch. Their last match before going to Russia has only confirmed that as the French merely drew friendly with the USA 1-1, while several days ago they won in front of their fans Ireland 2-0 and Italy 3-1. France suffered its only defeat in last 12 matches in March 2018 when Columbia defeated them in Paris after a great comeback by 3-2, but several days later team led by manager Deschamps triumphed in Moscow 3-1.

Despite home defeat by Portugal in the final of Euro 2016 Deschamps has managed to keep his job as manager of French national team. Under his command the French did a routine job in the qualifications for the World Cup in Russia. They won seven, drew two and lost just one qualifier. Regarding their ambitions about the World Cup they are naturally at the highest level, and it is quite realistic to expect that France will easily handle Australia, Peru and Denmark in the group phase, while later on a lot will depend of the draw. Let’s add that defenders Sidibe and Umtiti, and forward Mbappe are questionable for the first match with Australia due to minor injuries, and we expect to see at their positions Pavard, Kmpembe and Fekir.

Probable lineups France: Lloris – Pavard, Varane, Kimpembe, Fernandez – Tolisso, Kante, Pogba – Dembele, Griezmann, Fekir

Australia

The first thing we need to say about Australia is that this is their fourth consecutive World Cup, and by that they are not inexperienced team. But on the other hand, the Australian national team needs better players, which is why they hadn’t won a single point in Brazil four years ago, which should be strong motive to present themselves now in the best possible light regardless that they have three strong rivals in the group phase; France, Peru and Denmark. Still, their latest results made in friendly matches are more than encouraging as the Aussies firstly outclassed the Czech Republic 4-0 at home and then won Hungary away 2-1.

The Australian national team had perhaps the most difficult path toward the World Cup in Russia as it ended at the third place in the group phase of Asian qualifications, behind Japan and Saudi Arabia, and they had to go through continental play-off against Syria and then the final play-off match with Honduras. After he took the Australians for the second time in a row to the World Cup manager Postecoglu has surprisingly decided to quit. Instead of him has arrived experienced Duth coach van Marwijk, who previously led Saudi Arabia through the qualifications for Russia. Regarding the team that will face France, we believe that van Marwijk will send on the pitch the same 11 players who won the last match with the Hungarians.

Probable lineups Australia: Ryan – Risdon, Milligan, Sainsbury, Behich – Luongo, Jedinak, Mooy – Leckie, Rogic – Juric

Verdict:

The French are naturally great favourites to win the match but Australia showed in its last matches under leadership of new coach van Marwijk that will play very offensively oriented football and consequently we have opted here for a pick with plenty of goals.

Pick: over 2.5 goals 1.72 - 72/100 @1XBet