France coach Didier Deschamps during a training session. REUTERS
Doha: France’s coach Didier Deschamps was confident spate of injuries to his side will not affect his team’s performance as the reigning world champions open their title defence against Australia at the Al Janoub Stadium tonight.
A thigh injury forced Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema out of the World Cup, adding woes for the Les Bleues who were already missing midfielders Paul Pogba, N’golo Kante and defender Presnel Kimpembe through injuries.
But Deschamps said he has players, who can make up for Benzema’s absence.
“There are several options. Karim’s absence is not going to change anything,” the French coach told a pre-match press conference yesterday.
Asked if his team was lacking the leadership in the absence of star players, Deschamps said: “Do you think it’s done like that? It happens over time. There are always senior players who are there. Leadership is not just in words.”
The coach added there was no pressure on the reigning champions before they start their title defence.
“There is no apprehension. We did everything to ensure that the players were at their best for this very important but not decisive first match. There should be no anxiety but calm and serenity,” he said.
Following injury to Benzema, France hope Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe to repeat his heroics of Russia World Cup 2018 when he scored four goals as a 19-year-old.
“He [Mbappe] is still a young player, just a bit less than four years ago, but he already did very important things four years ago,” the France coach said.
“Since then he has become more mature and there is now even more recognition for him around the world. He doesn’t have any more responsibility within the squad than he did before, but he has always had the ability to make the difference and we will need that,” said Deschamps.
AC Milan forward Olivier Giroud is expected to start in Benzema’s absence with coach terming the 36-year-old a “useful attacker”.
“He has been there for a very long time. He is a very useful attacker in his register even when he is not scoring, he is important,” said the French coach, who confirmed Manchester United centre-back Raphael Varane is fit after recovering from a leg injury.
France had to work hard to beat Australia 2-1 in their opening match of 2018 campaign, claiming the win through a late own goal, and Hugo Lloris was expecting another tough fight from the Socceroos.
Australia players during a training session at Aspire Zone in Doha, yesterday. Reuters
“The first game is always of great importance to start the competition. By being title holder, there will be even more expectation,” said the French captain.
“It’s different from 2018 because the workforce has evolved. But we can expect the same style of match but we don’t want to experience the same feeling even if there was a victory. We want to start with good content and performance,” he said.
Lloris admitted France preparation wasn’t ideal due to injuries but said the team remains motivated for the second consecutive title.
“We always have more pressure being defending champions. But inside the group, we have a specific mission: to give ourselves every chance of finishing first,” he said.
Despite injury problems, France will be favourites against Graham Arnold’s Australia, who qualified after beating Peru in a penalty shoot-out. But Australia’s Awer Mabil said Socceroos were aiming at upsetting the top sides at this World Cup.
“We really want to shock the world,” said winger Mabil. “I think we have the quality to do that, we just have to show our ability,” he added.
When: Today at 10:00pm
Where: Al Janoub Stadium
Capacity: 40,000
Key stats:
- The last encounter of the two teams was also their opening game of the last World Cup in Russia. France won 2-1.
- France have only won one of their last six matches, losing three.
- France have won the World Cup twice, in 1998 and 2018, from 16 participations. Their 1998 title was followed by a first-round exit in 2002 - a first since the 1978 edition.
- Didier Deschamps's team are without two of their top midfielders, with Paul Pogba and Ngolo Kante having been ruled out injured.
- Australia are playing at a sixth edition of the World Cup finals and a fifth in a row. Their best finish was their only visit to the round of 16 at the 2006 World Cup, when they lost to Italy.
- The Socceroos qualified for Qatar in an inter-continental play-off against Peru decided by a penalty shootout in Doha in June.
- Australia's last World Cup finals victory came in South Africa in 2010, when they beat Serbia 2-1 in Nelspruit with goals from Tim Cahill and Brett Holman.
Previous meetings:
- The teams have met once at the World Cup, when France won 2-1 courtesy of a late Aziz Behich own goal in the opening game of the group phase in Kazan four years ago
- AC Milan forward Olivier Giroud is expected to start in Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema absence.
