France vs Australia: Lineups and LIVE updates

Defending world champions France begin their title defence against Australia in Group D.

2018 World Cup winners France will take centre stage when they begin their title defence against Australia at the Al Janoub Stadium.

Didier Deschamps would have wished for Ballon d’Or recipient Karim Benzema to not have suffered any injury. The Real Madrid number 9, alongside Christopher Nkunku, will be the major absentees for Les Blues.

However, all the focus will be on their world-beating talent Kylian Mbappé to carry the goalscoring burden and lead the frontline in Benzema’s absence.

Australia, on the other hand, will hope to get a positive result to boost their ambitions of reaching the Round of 16, having had three successive group stage exits. The Socceroos grabbed two wins out of two in September, which will help them be high in confidence against a side that’s among the favourites to go all the way this time too.

France vs Australia probable lineups

France XI (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Pavard, Konaté, Upamecano, Theo; Tchouaméni, Rabiot; Dembélé, Griezmann, Mbappé; Giroud

Australia XI (4-3-3): Ryan; Atkinson, Souttar, Rowles, Behich; McGree, Mooy, Irvine; Leckie, Duke, Goodwin

France vs Australia LIVE updates

France and Australia’s upcoming World Cup fixtures

France will face fellow Europeans Denmark in their next Group D encounter on Saturday, 26th November, at Stadium 974, while Australia will lock horns against Tunisia earlier on the same day, at the Al Janoub Stadium.

Ayaz Memon

Ayaz Memon has been a journalist for 30 years. A graduate in economics and law from Mumbai University, he started off as a sports writer and went on to edit newspapers like Mid-Day, Bombay Times and DNA, apart from being editor of Sportsweek magazine and sports editor of the Independent and Times of India at various stages. He was also consulting editor with Network 18 and is a columnist with the Dainik Bhaskar Group, Hindustan Times, Mint, Mail Today, Deccan Chronicle/Asian Age and Times of India writing on sports, politics, cinema and social issues. He has covered over 250 Test and 350 ODI matches, 9 cricket World Cups, 2 Olympics (1988 and 2012), 1998 and 2010 Commonwealth Game, 1982 and 1990 Asian Games, 1990 Hockey World Cup, 2006 Football World Cup and has also been a commentator on cricket at various times with Star Sports and SetMax. Ayaz has authored two books on cricket and one on 50 years of India’s Independence, India 50 - The Making Of A Nation. Follow Ayaz on Twitter and Instagram: