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For a brief moment of time after Craig Goodwin gave Australia an unlikely early lead against France, Australia believed.
Believed it could take it to France. Believed it could get more than one. Believed it could make it a day to remember for Asian teams after Saudi Arabia’s stunning upset win over Argentina started the day’s action.
That belief was tested when France capitalised on some sloppy defending to turn a 0-1 deficit into a 2-1 lead in the space of five minutes around the half-hour mark.
The belief evaporated completely in a second half in which Australia’s resistance wilted under intense French pressure, conceding twice more to round out a comfortable 4-1 rout for the French as they got their title defence off to a winning start.
Australia were always considered rank outsiders against the French, who despite missing a plethora of stars, including the likes of Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kante and reigning world player of the year, Karim Benzema, still lined up with a squad that contained the names Kyian Mbpappe, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembélé.
Even the most optimistic of Australian supports would’ve had a hard time convincing themselves Australia could match it with a team so laden with top-end talent.
In what could perhaps be termed a surprise decision, Graham Arnold to start both Kye Rowles and Harry Souttar in the centre of defence, despite both coming into the tournament under a fitness cloud having played little football in recent months after recovering from injury.
There was also a start for Riley McGree who stepped in to replace Ajdin Hrustic, who is returning from injury and wasn’t deemed fit to start against the French.
Perhaps inspired by Saudi Arabia’s efforts earlier in the day, or even Graham Arnold’s desire to have ‘11 Boxing Kangaroos’, Australia started brightly and looked to be aggressive in their play, finding space between the lines as Arnold deployed a 4-1-4-1 formation, with Jackson Irvine pushing further forward alongside Riley McGree who had an early chance that he sprayed wide.
But the intent was laudible and soon paid off when a well rehearsed training ground move paid off with Craig Goodwin found free at the back post to slam home Australia’s first goal from open play at a World Cup since Tim Cahill’s thunderous volley against the Dutch in 2014.
Despite their positive start, there were warning signs for the Socceroos with Ousmane Dembélé and Kylian Mbappe troubling Australia’s fullbacks – Aziz Behich and Nathaniel Atkinson – a hint of what was the come later in the game.
Two defensive lapses, and a poor turnover from Atkinson, who was terrorised by Mbappe all night, turned the game on its head and in the blink of an eye Australia went from leading to chasing.
From that point there was only ever going to be one winner. Remarkably Mbappe missed a sitter that would’ve made it three before half time, but there was to be no stopping Didier Deschamps’ side in the second half.
While they only added two further goals, it could easily have been more and the 4-1 scoreline was already the equal worst number of goals Australia has conceded at a World Cup; an unwanted statistic for a team who spoke pre-match of trying to take something from this French team.
THINGS WE LEARNED
Bravery is the key: If there was one lesson for all Asian nations yesterday it was that having the bravery to play football and be proactive will be rewarded. We saw it on full display with Saudi Arabia, and we saw it again with Australia in their start to the game against France which resulted in a shock early goal for Australia via the left boot of Adelaide United winger Craig Goodwin. Against a Tunisia side that is not the equal of France, this is how Australia need to approach the game again.
Defensive frailties come home to bite: Graham Arnold gambled with selecting Kye Rowles and Harry Souttar in the middle of defence, both of whom were well short of game time coming into the tournament. He also opted for Nathaniel Atkinson on the right ahead of Fran Karacic in a match up that pitted the Hearts full back against none other than Kylian Mbappe. It’s no surprise the PSG star had a field day. Atkinson won a few one-on-one battles, but he was outclassed all night, and the same was true on the other flank where Ousmane Dembélé was far too good for Aziz Behich.
Form counts: Craig Goodwin came into this tournament as one of Australia’s most in-form players after his blistering start to the A-League Men season with Adelaide United, and that was evident in the way he took his chance to give Australia the lead after just nine minutes. It’s perhaps surprising therefore that Australia’s most in-form striker, Jamie Maclaren, spent the entire game sitting on the pine, especially in the second half when Australia were chasing the game and needed a goal. Jason Cummings is the cult hero of Australian football at the moment, but struggled to get into the game and offered little outlet for the Socceroos when they did have the ball.
WHAT THEY SAID
Graham Arnold – Australia coach
“At the end of the day the quality of the French team… they are the previous world champions for a reason. I thought we started the game very well.
“Physically they were just so much bigger, faster and stronger than us today. Overall, the boys did everything they could and that’s all I can ask.
“We started the game well, physically they were bigger and stronger. That’s what we want to be. That’s what we trained on, the way we scored that goal – but overall the boys gave everything and that’s all you can ask.
“We’ve built the belief and the energy and the focus. For the last week since we’ve been in camp, we’ve been working hard in building that belief. The way we started I think they believed, and that we just got punished by our mistakes. The deliveries of their crosses was right on target.
“I’ll go back into the dressing room and then when we get back to the hotel, that’s that game gone. It’s good that the other result (Tunisia-Denmark) was a draw. Now it’s about winning on Saturday, so we’ve got to get ready for it.”
WHAT COMES NEXT
Australia’s next encounter comes against Tunisia, at the same stadium, in just three days time. This was always earmarked as Australia’s most winnable game, but the Tunisians showed in their 0-0 draw with fancied Denmark that they are a tough nut to crack.
Photo: twitter/Socceroos
Listen to Doha Daily as we come to you live from Al Janoub Stadium after Australia’s defeat to France
