France vs Australia: Injury-hit holders to sink Socceroos in group opener
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France vs Australia odds, preview and tips
World Cup holders France make a low-key start to their Group D campaign against Australia once again as they did in Russia four years ago.
Les Bleus have been rocked by a handful of injuries to key players but are the 15/2 third favourites in the World Cup winner odds to win the trophy for a third time.
The France winning odds are 2/7 for them to start with a victory against the Socceroos, who are 10/1 so let’s examine some of the talking points and odds ahead of Tuesday’s game.
Click on the link for our World Cup Group D guide.
France vs Australia form
The French came through qualifying as group winners with five wins, but they drew twice with Ukraine in an unbeaten campaign and their recent form has been patchy.
Didier Deschamps’ side were the favourites to win Euro 2020 but were knocked out by Switzerland in a penalty shoot-out in the round of 16 and they won just one of their six Nations League games.
They would have been relegated from the top tier had Austria beaten Croatia in their final match, but they could not have asked for a much easier start to their World Cup group.
𝟮𝟲𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿! @MarcusThuram has been called up to complete Didier Deschamps' squad at the World Cup 🇫🇷#FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/fpkRyVV9LR
— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) November 14, 2022
All three of France’s group games in Russia involved three or fewer match goals and they are 19/20 in the World Cup odds to win that way against the Aussies.
They were drawing at the break against Australia in their 2018 group opener, so Draw HT/France FT can be backed at 13/5 bearing in mind the underdogs are likely to be parking the bus in this game.
💬 "I'll just keep trying to prove myself in training every day to try and get that spot against France."@mitchduke8 💪#Socceroos #GiveIt100
— Socceroos (@Socceroos) November 15, 2022
The Aussies had an exhausting qualifying campaign which concluded with a penalty shoot-out win against Peru in an inter-continental play-off to seal a fifth successive World Cup finals appearance.
Goals are likely to prove a problem for Graham Arnold’s side and Kylian Mbappe to outscore the opposition at 6/4 in the World Cup betting is the next of our France vs Australia betting tips.
France vs Australia head to head
The French needed a penalty and an 81st-minute goal to seal a 2-1 win against Australia at the last World Cup and they are 9/4 to win and concede again, while it’s 13/5 on them winning by a one-goal margin again.
Another goalless first half can also be backed at 21/10, but France to win both halves seems a more likely outcome which is available at 7/4.
France vs Australia team news
The champions have been stunned by the news Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema is out of the World Cup with a thigh injury he sustained over the weekend, joining a list of absent senior players including N’Golo Kante, Presnel Kimpembe, Paul Pogba and Christopher Nkunku.
Les Bleus have one of the most lethal strikeforce in the world, with Mbappe (5), Benzema (3) and Antoine Griezmann (6) scoring 14 of France’s 18 goals in qualifying.
Youssouf Fofana and Aureline Tchouameni could operate in the heart of midfield in a 3-4-3 formation favoured by Deschamps recently.
Manchester United defender Raphael Varane has been included in the squad despite being out of action since picking up an injury against Chelsea a month ago.
Ten of Australia’s 26-man squad play in either England or Scotland, the best known being Celtic’s Aaron Mooy, who is likely to start behind Hibs’ Martin Boyle. Verona’s attacking midfielder Ajdin Hrustic, probably Australia’s best player, has been out since mid-October with an ankle injury but is fit, according to Arnold.
France vs Australia goalscorer odds
Three of France’s players are odds-on to score on Tuesday which makes Griezmann an interesting option at 6/5 to find the net any time bearing in mind the Atletico Madrid striker is a likely starter.
Griezmann opened the scoring against Australia in 2018 and is 7/2 to break the deadlock again, while Olivier Giroud is 3/1. Mbappe, though, is 12/5 and 19/5 to score at least twice.
The first player to arrive at Clairefontaine is… 🤩#FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/43dI2ZywJL
— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) November 14, 2022
Adrien Rabiot scored in the 1-1 Nations League draw with Croatia and is 10/1 to draw first blood or 7/2 to find the net, although the front three are the most likely candidates.
Jamie Maclaren is seen as the best hope to give the Aussies a shock lead at 11/1 or 7/2 to score, while Hrustic is 25/1 and 17/2.
Match Info
Where: Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
When: 19:00, 22nd November
How to watch: BBC
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
