France (The Blues). What more can you say. Pogba. Mbappe. Griezmann. Lemar. Lloris. Giroud. France could honestly field a full B team and put up a fight against most countries.
After a horror show in the 2010 world cup they showed some promise in 2014 making the quarters and losing 1-0 to eventual Champions Germany who went on to beat Brazil 7-1 just 4 days later, so 1-0 isn't so bad.
The 2016 EUROS which in all honestly was theirs to lose. France dominated the final of the tournament but were beaten in extra time by Portugal.
Everyone has touted this team for good things for the past 3 tournaments, and with a Runners up medal from the EUROS perhaps now is the time this giant of World football returns to the top. You can't really say much about France that isn't already known. A team of superstars who are no longer "inexperienced", with most players in their mid to late 20's and 50+ international caps, its time top stop "showing promise" and become World Champions.
Australia (The Socceroos) have qualified for the past 4 world cups and were the penultimate team to qualify for this tournament. They broke several records during their qualifying campaign. Most games in a single qualification (22). Most distance traveled during a qualification (251,000 km).
This team certainly did it the hard way going through 2 play-offs; one against Syria which went into extra time and the other against Honduras.
The Socceroos have always been "battlers", playing football in a country that still refuses to stop calling it soccer. After winning the Asian Cup in 2015, it was expected that Australia would breeze through qualification without much trouble. However a string of draws against Thailand, Saudi Arabia and Iraq saw Australia come 3rd in their group on goal difference; below Saudi Arabia.
With these struggles and grumbles around the National Team, after locking in qualification, the Australian manager Ange Postecoglu stepped down leaving Australia 6 months before the World Cup. After a falling out with the Saudi FA, Bert Van Marwjik also quit his post and was offered the job as Australia's World Cup caretaker.
Australia are "blooding" some youngsters in this World Cup as well as giving Tim Cahill and send-off to his career by allowing him to participate in his 4th World Cup. Australia's biggest problem however, is a lack of striking talent.
With a good goalkeeper in Mathew Ryan and a midfield staring Aaron Mooy and Mile Jedinak, it has been upfront that Australia have lacked quality over the past 4 years. After crashing out in 2014 with 0 points, they will want to prove they can fight on the worlds biggest stage.
With that said, it is accepted by fans and football "experts" in Australia alike, 2-0 or 3-0 would be "acceptable". After seeing Russia put 5 past Saudi Arabia who Australia struggled so much with in qualifying, I am genuinely terrified at what the score may be. 4-0 France.
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