Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kazan: Australia and France will both be on a mission to shine when they kick off their 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Group C campaign on Saturday.
After delivering the best-ever performance in a FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, France will be keen to put their bitter defeat to Portugal on home soil in the UEFA EURO 2016 final behind them by progressing at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Four years ago in Brazil, Les Bleus began their bid for glory with a 3-0 win over Honduras.
Didier Deschamps has numerous attacking options at his disposal to ensure his team get off to a similarly free-scoring start in Kazan – but who will get the nod to join superstar Antoine Griezmann and young prodigy Kylian Mbappe in the forward line?
https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/fifa_world_cup/video/all_you_need_to_know_australia.html
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kazan: Australia talisman Tim Cahill shot down talk of retirement on Thursday as he targets becoming just the fourth player to score at four FIFA World Cups alongside luminaries such as Pele.
But first he has to hope Australia's Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk gives him the nod from the substitutes' bench.
Socceroos great Cahill is responsible for nearly half of Australia's 11 World Cup goals to date.
And although he is expected to start all three Group C games -- against France, Peru and Denmark -- on the bench, Cahill's dream of becoming just the fourth player after Brazil's Pele and Germans Uwe Seeler and Miroslav Klose to score in four World Cups remains intact.
At 38 years old, time is against the Australian, who says he has "spent a whole year getting ready for three games".
Cahill underlined his personal ambitions, and those of an Australia team hoping to stun Euro 2016 finalists France in Kazan, on Saturday.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Moscow: Australia will go into the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia as Asia's top-ranked team and the Socceroos are clear of their target - to achieve another new high.
Their best achievement in the FIFA World Cup was their appearance in the Round of 16 in the 2006 edition and Australia, who qualified for Russia 2018 after a gruelling campaign, are quietly optimistic of their chances of equalling, if not bettering, that.
They will have to be at their best though for 1998 World Cup winners France, Denmark and Peru will be formidable opposition.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The continental champions go into their fifth FIFA World Cup with hopes of repeating or surpassing their Round of 16 finish at the 2006 edition. Our Socceroos specialist runs his eyes over Bert van Marwijk's men.
Two Group Stage eliminations have followed Australia's celebrated progression to the World Cup's last 16 some 12 years ago, and coach van Marwijk has been tasked with taking the Socceroos to new heights.
We continue our series of Expert Views with a look at the Green and Gold's chances at Russia 2018 with a focus on tactics, key players and predictions.