Socceroos out to inflict more pain Les Bleus

THE curse of the defending champions will hang over injury-hit France when they open their World Cup title defence in a group match against Australia tomorrow (3am Malaysian time) a repeat of the start to their triumphant 2018 campaign.

Socceroos coach Graham Arnold will be looking to Australia’s famous physicality and fighting spirit to deliver a first World Cup finals win for the country since 2010.

Failing that, with Group D matches against Denmark and Tunisia to follow, Australia will be desperate to avoid a repeat of the 40 thrashing at the hands of

Germany that derailed their 2010 campaign before it really got started.

While Arnold’s side struggled to qualify – only stamping their ticket via a penalty shootout in an intercontinental playoff against Peru in June – he has included a handful of inexperienced but highly confident attackers in his squad.

“It’s our first World Cup and we really want to shock the world,” said winger Awer Mabil. “I think we have the quality to do that, we just have to show our ability.”

The Socceroos have won only two games at World Cup finals: in 2006 against Japan and 2010 against Serbia and have advanced only once from the group stage. Arnold wants to repeat the feat – and more.

“What I am looking at is the last 16,” he said. “I have got to give them (his players) the goal and and expect them to achieve that goal.

“I want to go all the way. But success, you start off with obviously the group stage.

“You can say our players aren’t playing in the top leagues in the world and all their players are,” Arnold told 7news.com.au.

“But it’s a team sport. It’s about connecting the 26 players together in a family environment way and making sure that they’re mates and they have got each other’s backs. And that is when you see the special results.”