Australia vs France odds and betting statistics
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Australia vs France match preview
These two teams always seem to stumble at the quarter-final stage but, for one, the World Cup dream will continue that little bit longer.
Co-hosts Australia could actually have suffered a disastrous group stage exit, following defeat to Nigeria, but overcame the pressure to smash Canada 4-0 in their final group game in Melbourne.
Then, on Monday night in Sydney, the Matildas carried that form into the knockout stages, swatted aside Denmark with a rather comfortable 2-0 victory.
Caitlin Foord broke the deadlock after half an hour, having been played in-behind by Mary Fowler, before, mid-way through the second period, Hayley Raso fired home a second, teed-up by Emily van Egmond.
Before the tournament began, Australia’s aim was to reach a first-ever World Cup semi-final, with Tony Gustavsson’s team seemingly peaking at the right time, now, potentially, just 90 minutes away from history.
This though will be the toughest test the the Matildas have faced so far, with France coming into this match-up on fire.
Then, on Tuesday, Hervé Renard’s team swatted aside Morocco in the round of 16, the tie completely over after 23 minutes at Hindmarsh Stadium, with France 3-0 up by that stage.
Kadidiatou Diani, Kenza Dali and Eugénie Le Sommer all on target during an eight minute spree, before Le Sommer headed home a fourth to rubber stamp the rout in Adelaide.
France have fallen at the quarter-final stage of each of the last two World Cups, ousted by Germany on penalties in 2015, before being dumped out by United States on home soil four summers ago.
This will be a first-ever competitive meeting between these two nations and, of all the quarter-finals taking place this weekend, this might just be the toughest to call.
So, will those inside Lang Park be celebrating Australian history, or will France overcome the co-hosts in Brisbane?
The winners of this tie will face either England or Colombia at Sydney Olympic Stadium on Wednesday.
Australia team news
The big news is that Sam Kerr is back, coming on for the final ten minutes against Denmark on Monday, bursting away from defenders before skying a shot over the crossbar.
She is, by some distance, this team’s best player, but is she fit enough to come straight back into the XI and, if she does, how does her presence change how this team sets up?
Emily van Egmond would, almost certainly, be the unlucky player to make way, with Kerr partnering Mary Fowler in attack.
The left-flank has been Australia’s most dangerous area at this tournament so far, with Arsenal duo Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord linking-up telephonically.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Arnold; Carpenter, Hunt, Kennedy, Catley; Cooney-Cross, Gorry, Raso, Foord; Kerr, Fowler.
France teams news
In four games at this tournament, France have used four different centre-back partnerships, with Estelle Cascarino, Maëlle Lakrar and Élisa De Almeida all partnering captain Wendie Renard so far.
The left-footed Lakrar provides the best balance, but she missed the Morocco win due to injury, meaning Élisa De Almeida could keep her place.
Aside from that, Hervé Renard’s team is very settled, with Kenza Dali’s performances Down Under making her undroppable.
Eugénie Le Sommer is France’s top-scorer of all-time, taking her international tally to 92 by netting three times at this tournament.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Peyraud-Magnin; Périsset, Renard, De Almeida, Karchaoui; Toletti, Geyoro, Dali; Diani, Bacha, Le Sommer.
Australia′s Women’s World Cup results & fixtures
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France′s Women’s World Cup results & fixtures
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Women’s World Cup quarter-final results & fixtures
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