Where and when to see France-Australia?
Kick-off at 8 p.m. for this France-Australia which will launch the Blues campaign at the World Cup this Tuesday, at the Al-Janoub stadium in Doha.
A Group D match (the schedule here), to watch on TF1 and beIN SPORTS 1. You can also follow this match live with commentary on our site, with the bonus, on
Figaro Live
, of a pre-match hour, a half-time debriefing and a one-hour post-match.
Two special envoys on the spot.
To discover
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Full World Cup match schedule
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Read alsoWorld Cup schedule and results
Despite the avalanche of packages, can the Blues still aim for the moon?
The least we can say is that the Blues are not polished.
After losing their titular doublet in the middle with N'Golo Kanté and Paul Pogba, they in turn saw Presnel Kimpembe, Christophe Nkunku and Ballon d'Or Karim Benzema fall, not to mention Mike Maignan.
The status of favorite of the France team is at the very least tarnished.
But with Kylian Mbappé (see elsewhere), Antoine Griezmann, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Raphaël Varane or even the eternal Hugo Lloris at the helm, Didier Deschamps still has a high quality workforce.
A priori, enough to avoid leaving the group stage, like four of the last five world champions.
And to achieve what no one has managed to do since Brazil in 1962, namely to retain their title?
Nothing forbids dreaming,
even if Brazil seems better armed and more sure of its fact.
Argentina was also more spared from the glitches.
Read alsoWhy we should not bury the Blues, deprived of the Ballon d'Or Karim Benzema
The advent of Mbappé?
This is the meaning of the story.
Best hope of the 2018 World Cup, Kylian Mbappé must take the reins of the France team.
Without Benzema or Pogba, the Blues need the crack of Bondy more than ever, in great shape with Paris Saint-Germain and who always demands more responsibility, in club as in selection.
It's time for Didier Deschamps to give them to him and for him to assume them by guiding France to the heights.
Read alsoWorld Cup: the plucked Blues… Mbappé it's up to you!
With or without Raphaël Varane?
If he reported his optimism to Le
Figaro
a few days ago, Raphaël Varane should come off the bench on Tuesday.
The Manchester United defender has not played for a month.
This is probably the wisest solution.
It is the Upamecano/Konaté pair which would leave with the favor of the forecasts in the axis.
A priori, Deschamps must field four attacking players, including Ousmane Dembélé on the right and the second top scorer in the history of the France team, Olivier Giroud, at the forefront.
He only misses two goals to catch up with the national record holder, Thierry Henry, three to overtake him.
Note that Adrien Rabiot should be associated with Tchouaméni in the middle.
Varane, he will probably have to wait until Saturday against Denmark to regain his rightful place at the center hinge.
Read alsoThe confidences of Didier Deschamps, who answers questions from former stars of the Blues
Australia, a good memory?
The Blues have never lost against Australia: five matches, four wins, one draw.
That's the good news.
The last time the two teams met, however, it was not a cakewalk.
It was June 16, 2018, during the first match for Deschamps' men at the Russian World Cup.
Victory 2-1 with a penalty from Antoine Griezmann (62nd) and the signed deliverance… Aziz Behich (80th), who countered a shot from Paul Pogba to deceive his own goalkeeper.
In the meantime, the so-called Mile Jedinak had equalized, also from the penalty spot (62nd).
In pain.
“
The workforce has evolved, it will be different.
But we can expect the same style of match and we don't want to experience the same feeling as in Russia
, insists Hugo Lloris
.
Even if we won, it was insufficient in terms of performance… We want to get off to a good start with good level content to give us a good boost.
»
Read alsoWorld Cup: the table of the final phase
Important or decisive?
After the avalanche of glitches in recent days, the Blues really need a breath of fresh air and therefore a victory against Australia.
Especially since they have only won one success in their last six matches.
For the rest, a setback would obviously in no way be prohibitive in view of qualifying for the round of 16.
The match against Denmark on Saturday should be vital if necessary, with a final to follow on November 30 against Tunisia.
Note that a defeat would strongly compromise the conquest of first place.
However, this position would avoid potential reunions with Brazil and Argentina before … the final.
At least if the giants of South America also have the good idea to finish in the lead.
World Cup: the 25 Blues in pictures
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